On the invitation of Pope Francis, the President of the Republic and Madam Chantal BIYA left Yaoundé this 16 October 2013 to pay an official visit to the Vatican. The Head of State departed at mid-day from the Nsimalen International Airport where he was bid farewell by a host of senior State officials and militants of the Cameroon Democratic People’s Movement, the CPDM. President Paul BIYA granted brief audiences to the Prime Minister Head of Government, Mr. Philemon YANG, and the Minister Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand NGOH NGOH, before boarding the flight. 

The delegation accompanying the Head of State is made up of AMADOU Ali, Vice Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of Relations with the Assemblies; MOUKOKO MBONJO Pierre, Minister of External Relations; BELINGA EBOUTOU Martin, Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet; ATANGA NJI Paul, Minister in Charge of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic; SINDJOUN Luc; Special Adviser to the President of the Republic; Rear Admiral FOUDA Joseph, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic; ZANGA Antoine, Ambassador of Cameroon to the Vatica; AWONO ESSAMA Dominique, Ambassador of Cameroon to Italy; and BIKELE Simon Pierre, Chief of State Protocol.