The Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA received letters of credence from four Ambassadors recently posted by their countries to Yaoundé, in elaborate diplomatic ceremonies at Unity Palace on Thursday 7 November 2013. The Ambassadors received this day were: His Excellency MUHAMMAD BIN SULAYMAN AL MASHAR of Saudi Arabia; His Excellency Aliou Ndao FALL of Senegal; His Excellency Jan de BRUYNE of the Kingdom of Belgium; and His Excellency Anastasio ASUMU MUM MUNOZ from Equatorial Guinea.
The ceremony began at 11 a.m. when the Saudi Ambassador arrived at Unity Palace, and started with military honours by a detachment of the Presidential Guard. He was then led into the presence of the Head of State by the Chief of State Protocol, Mr. Simon Pierre BIKELE. The presentation proper was followed with a tête-à-tête discussion with the President of the Republic. In attendance were the close collaborators of the Head of State: the Minister, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand NGOH NGOH; the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet, Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU; the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in Charge of the Commonwealth, Joseph DION NGUTE; the Chief of Staff of the Special Command of the Head of State, Airforce Brigadier General Emmanuel AMOUGOU; and the Commander of the Presidential Guard, Raymond Jean Charles BEKO’O ABONDO.
The other Ambassadors went through the same diplomatic ritual to present their letters of credence to President Paul BIYA, and act which gives them their full rights to act in Cameroon on behalf of their various countries.
Immediately after the intense diplomatic ceremonies, the President of the Republic granted audience to Philippe DOUSTE-BLAZY, former French Minister of Health, Board Chairperson of UNITAID and Special Adviser on Innovative Financing for Development to the Secretary General of the United Nations. He has been in Cameroon since 5 November 2013 and has had several activities including a meeting with the Minister of Public Health and the officials of UNICEF.
