US-Africa Summit : President Paul Biya To Deliberate With Peers

A total of 49 African Heads of State, including President Paul Biya and the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, are in Washington, D.C. from the 13-15 December, 2022 for the second US-Africa Leaders Summit. Meeting on the invitation of American President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, the event will focus on security, trade as well as peace and stability. President Pau Biya who is leading a delegation of cabinet Ministers concerned with the issues arrived in the American capital on Saturday 10 December, in the presence of his wife, Chantal Biya at 6:30 PM local time, which was 12:30PM in Yaounde. If the airport protocol on Saturday was light at the Andrews Military Base, as is the case for all African leaders coming for the summit, Cameroonians from across the United States could not hold their calm as they thronged the Conrad Hotel to demonstrate their attachment to State institutions and loyalty to the Head of State. Tight security at the airport limited the welcome ceremony to the Ambassador of Cameroon to the USA, Henri Etoundi Essomba while the rest of his collaborators and some of the Ministers who are part of the official entourage of the Head of State received the Presidential Couple at the Conrad hotel where they will be lodged during their stay in Washington. The presence of President Paul Biya at the summit is clearly a strong message of reinforced friendship ties with the United States of America.     
Both countries share common concerns in the areas of climate change, peace maintenance across several areas in the world and such preoccupying issues like the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine that require total collaboration from governments and international stakeholders. The common desire to bring all parties on board in tackling the challenges is also evident in the Leadership Summit, judging from the presence of State and civil society actors at the gathering. Thus, there will be a Civil Society Forum; African and Diaspora Young Leaders Forum; African Growth and opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade Ministerial conference; Peace, Security, and Governance Forum; Partnering for Sustainable Health Cooperation and Health Security; Conservati...