The Head of State received six diplomatic credentials in a solemn ceremony organised at Unity Palace on 29 December 2023.
Her Excellency Lorraine Anderson, the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon was the first to be welcomed by the Chief of State Protocol at the esplanade. She was followed by His Excellency Nam Ki-Wook – Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Barry Robert Lowen – High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, H.E. Abdallah Boukemmache – Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Jean-Marc Chataigner, Ambassador of the European Union, and H.E. Monsignor José Avelino Bettencourt, the Apostolic Noncio to Cameroon.
Each of the Diplomats were accorded full military honours and a red-carpet reception, in strict respect of diplomatic norms, on their arrival and departure by a contingent of the Presidential Guards. They conducted a troop review following a wonderful rendition of the national anthem of Cameroon when they arrived, and the national anthems of their respective countries after the presentation of their letters of credence to the Cameroonian leader.
President Paul BIYA was assisted by the Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency – Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minster of External Relations – Lejeune Mbella Mbella, and the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet – Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.
