80th Anniversary of Landings In Provence : President Paul Biya At Forefront

President Paul Biya of Cameroon yesterday August 15, 2024 joined other world leaders at the necropolis in the town of Boulouris-Saint-Raphael, in south-east France, in commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of Allied Landings in Provence. It was an allied operation during the Second World War which led to the liberation of southern France from the Germans on August 15, 1944. The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya yesterday actively participated in the ceremonies of the 1944 happenings which greatly shaped the history of France and her relations with the rest of the world. 

President Paul Biya’s Advocacy
President Paul Biya was the only African leader to speak at yesterday’s ceremony, in one of the two speeches that marked the ceremony. This tells of the high esteem France and its leader has for Cameroon and her Head of State. And the Cameroonian leader used the opportunity to salute his invitation, praise France for the warm welcome and above all, advocate for a society where war belongs to history while peace and justice become the order of the day.
President Paul Biya regretted the rather tumultuous nature of the society, stating that the ceremony was a call for joint conscious efforts by all and sundry to avoid conflicts and strive for a calm world of shared gains. While observing that there would have been no allied victory without the sacred alliance of wills, without the contribution of other peoples, without the foreigners, the blacks and others, President Paul Biya said, “This struggle was waged together to defend the universal values and ideals of peace and justice... This vision recognises that each of us has an equal right to dignity.” He said the exemplary solidarity that prevailed remains a precious lesson that all must perpetuate and pass on to future generations, to avoid the mistakes of the past. 
The Cameroon’s Head of State made it clear that the commemoration must also highlight the collective responsibility for preserving peace and freedom in the world. “We need to find answers to the questions and causes that lie at the root of terrorism, injustice and the crisis of confidence in multilateralism, if we are to hope to foster harmony and make the world a safer place.” He observed that, “For my part, I am convinced that international solidarity and greater consideration for the interests of other countries, particularly those of the South, would bring greater peace to today’s world. That is also the reason why we are here.”
A view corroborated by host President Macron who said, “It prompts us all to reflect on the price we pay for our freedom and our values. It reminds us of the importance of a united Europe ...