- The President of the National Assembly,
- The First Vice-President of the Senate,
- The President of the Constitutional Council,
- The President of the Supreme Court,
- Honourable Members of Parliament,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
- My dear Compatriots,
First and foremost, I would like to thank the President of the National Assembly for his kind words of welcome and encouragement.
I am grateful to you, honourable Members of Parliament, for your warm welcome on this solemn occasion, in this magnificent hemicycle.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Cameroon, who have once again decided to honour me with their trust, which has always been, and will undoubtedly continue to be, a valuable source of support to me during this new term of office.
Let me say this most solemnly: I will spare no effort to continue to be worthy of this trust, whatever the circumstances, no matter the difficulties, obstacles and challenges.
Such is the meaning of the oath I have just taken before the people of Cameroon, whom you represent.
- Fellow Cameroonians,
- My dear compatriots,
As I take up my duties, I fully fathom the gravity of the situation our country is experiencing. I am aware of the numerous and severe challenges we face. I understand the depth of frustrations and the scale of expectations. I know how great the responsibilities of the President of the Republic will be.
On this solemn occasion, I would like to renew, before you, a commitment that I have already made in the past, under similar circumstances, namely, to remain faithful to the ideals that have guided me since my accession to the highest office.
That of devoting myself entirely to the sacred mission that the Almighty God and the sovereign people of Cameroon have entrusted to me: to work tirelessly for the advent of a united, stable and prosperous Cameroon.
I know, just as you know, that this is a daunting but exacting task when one has the love and interests of the people at heart.
This task, my dear compatriots, is not insurmountable, especially when one has the people’s unflinching support. You show me this support at each election. You did so once again, clearly and unequivocally, during the 12 October election.
- Fellow Cameroonians at home and abroad,
Today, as I begin a new term of office, by the will of God and of the sovereign people of Cameroon, I would like to reach out to each and every one of you. Together, we must lay the foundations for an even more promising future for our beloved and beautiful country, especially for our youth. Even though we have accomplished a great deal, we still have so much to achieve, together, for ourselves, but also for future generations.
I am therefore appealing for a united front. Join me so that, together, in peace and harmony, we can meet the daunting challenges facing our country.
I urge you all to take part in this worthy cause. Electioneering for the post of president is past and gone. It is now time to get together. This country is our shared heritage. It is our most precious asset. Rather than destroying it, we have to build, strengthen and modernize it. We should end the hate speech flooding the public space, especially social media.
- Fellow Cameroonians,
- My dear compatriots,
My vision for society was presented and explained to you at length during the just-ended election campaign.
On that occasion, as during the strategic consultations that were held at Unity Palace, my teams and I also listened to the grievances of Cameroonians living in the country as well as those living abroad.
We listened to their concerns, frustrations and grievances, as well as their aspirations, expectations, hopes and suggestions.
These fruitful exchanges will undoubtedly serve as a compass to guide our present and future action.
- Fellow Cameroonians,
- My dear compatriots,
As I have already said, my action throughout this seven-year term will focus on the situation of young people and women.
One of my main objectives in this regard is to promote greater youth and women empowerment and protection.
As you are aware, commendable efforts have been made in recent years to support young people, including the construction of numerous school and university facilities, the promotion of youth education, the professionalization of teaching and the creation of new job opportunities for young people.
We will intensify these efforts, ensuring that young people and women enjoy greater protection at school and at work, but also elsewhere, to ensure their self fulfilment.
Trades and other activities that are particularly appealing to girls and women will receive greater State support, especially financial support.
On another score, having been approached on this matter by young people, who expressed utmost concern, I have just ordered the resumption of doctoral studies in universities during this academic year.
I have also decided to reinstate competitive entrance examinations for admission into the higher teachers’ training colleges.
- My dear compatriots,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the early months of this seven-year term, I will put in place a special youth employment promotion plan, with the following main thrusts:
Firstly, provision of administrative and tax facilities for private enterprises; in return such enterprises will have to recruit young people.
Secondly, strengthening of support and guidance mechanisms for youths in the design, implementation, and financing of their projects. This will be carried out in partnership with local banks and international donors.
Thirdly, promotion of business development in sectors with high employment potential such as digital technology, mining, agriculture and services.
Fourthly, starting from the next financial year, a portion of the State’s investment budget will be allocated to labour-intensive projects benefiting youths nationwide. This will be implemented in collaboration with regional and local authorities and associations.
I am convinced that the success of this plan will be driven by the courage, ingenuity and creativity that our young compatriots so often demonstrate.
- My dear compatriots,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
Conscious of the need to effectively address the concerns of the people, we will, during this seven-year term, fast-track the implementation of ongoing projects in various strategic sectors such as energy, water supply, road infrastructure and public health.
It goes without saying that efforts to combat corruption will be stepped up.
We will also submit to Parliament some reforms to enhance the State’s efficiency by adapting our institutions to the demands of our environment.
- Fellow Cameroonians,
- My dear compatriots,
As you know, our country has been grappling with a number of security challenges for years now.
In the North-West and South-West regions, as well as the Far North, terrorist groups, some from neighbouring countries, have long sowed death and caused destruction.
Thanks to the effective actions of our Defense and Security Forces, whose professionalism I commend once again, as well as the courageous commitment of our resilient populations, the overall situation has markedly improved. Government-led reconstruction efforts, supported by our international partners, are paving the way for a gradual return to normalcy.
These efforts will continue steadily.
In this regard, I urge traditional rulers, the elite and the vital forces of the affected regions to engage more than ever before in raising awareness among members of the armed groups, encouraging them to accept Government’s olive branch and lay down their arms.
Such community dialogue could be conducted in collaboration with administrative authorities, to facilitate the reintegration of these wayward youths into their respective communities after going through the DDR programme.
Once again, I would like to caution the members of these armed groups who continue their criminal activities, about the serious consequences of their obstinacy.
I extend my gratitude to the friendly countries that have begun pursuing and bringing to justice the sponsors of these criminal acts who are hiding within their territories. I encourage those partners who have not yet taken action, to follow suit and confront these terrorists who, from their countries, continue to incite violence against our innocent people with impunity.
Terrorism is a global scourge that must be combated vigorously wherever it shows its ugly face.
- Fellow Cameroonians,
- My dear compatriots,
The recent presidential election is testimony to the remarkable maturity of the Cameroonian people and their strong commitment to democracy.
During the election campaign, and even prior to its official start, Cameroonians engaged in open debates. They expressed their views passionately, yet always peacefully and responsibly, confronting each other’s ideas, programmes and ambitions.
The election itself, fully financed by the State budget, was organized and conducted satisfactorily, as confirmed by international observers.
In this regard, I warmly congratulate the body in charge of elections. Once again, ELECAM has successfully met this formidable challenge, in a context that was not always easy.
I also wish to commend the commitment of the vast majority of Cameroonians to peace and living together.
Regrettably, this peace was disturbed by unrest following the vote, stemming from the actions of some irresponsible politicians.
In several localities, unprecedented scenes of looting and vandalism were observed, leading to fire, destruction of public and private property, attacks on forces of law and order and loss of human lives.
The situation was brought under control thanks to the courage, dedication, and professionalism of our Defence and Security Forces, whom I warmly congratulate.
I also extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish those injured a swift recovery.
I am appealing to the sense of responsibility of each and everyone, especially those who seek to fuel hatred and violence in our country, particularly some of our compatriots in the diaspora.
Cameroon cannot afford a post-election crisis with potentially devastating consequences, as witnessed elsewhere.
- My dear compatriots,
It is my responsibility to ensure that order is maintained. I can assure you that order will prevail. Cameroon will keep forging ahead.
Long live the Republic!
Long live Cameroon!
Thank you.
Yaounde, 6 November 2025
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