Cameroon

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of Delegations, Distinguished Delegates, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The President of the Republic of Cameroon, H.E. Paul Biya, has done me the honour of representing Him at the proceedings of the 78th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and has instructed me to deliver, on His behalf, the following address, I quote:

Allow me first of all to convey Cameroon's warm congratulations to Mr. Dennis Francis, following his election to the presidency of this session. His long experience in multilateral diplomacy and his eminent human qualities give us confidence that he will guide our work with efficiency and success.

I would therefore like to assure him of my country's support in the accomplishment of his honourable mission.

I take this opportunity to also congratulate his predecessor, Ambassador Csaba Korosi, who worked on the preparation of the many high-level meetings whose review during the 78th session will shape our future. May he find here the full gratitude of Cameroon.

I would also like to reiterate to the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, my full appreciation for the results achieved so far in the exercise of his high and delicate functions. I renew Cameroon's full support for the efforts he is making so that our common Organization can effectively meet the many challenges facing the world.

Finally, from this podium, I would like to reiterate Cameroon's support and solidarity with the respective Governments and Peoples of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Libya, following the recent natural disasters of which they were victims and which caused very heavy material losses and loss of human life.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The general theme chosen for the debate of this session is entitled "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all." The relevance of this theme no longer needs to be demonstrated.

Indeed, this 78th session is being held in a context where geopolitical tensions and rivalries are intensifying, jeopardizing peace and economic, social and cultural development in many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. This is particularly the case in Ukraine, in the Sahel region, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.

These situations are undermining the many efforts made to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, restore growth and development, and effectively combat climate change.

Fortunately, we can be pleased that the international community has mobilized to reach consensus on certain major issues. This is the case with the Paris Agreement on climate; it is also the case with the great agreement on the sustainable development programme that we launched together, right here, in 2015, along with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development. More recently still, we adopted the Ottawa Framework Convention as well as the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity.

It is in this same spirit that Africa is progressively implementing its Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, in order to promote a united Africa, an Africa of peace, an Africa of security, an Africa of good governance, an Africa of shared prosperity, an Africa called upon to play a major role in international relations by 2063.

Despite all these efforts, the expected results are still slow to materialize. What might explain this situation?

Mr. President,

Among other reasons, it must be acknowledged that action has not always followed the word given. As an illustration, I would like to mention the insufficient mobilization of resources for the implementation of the SDGs, or the failure to reach the 0.7% target set for official development assistance despite promises made nearly 50 years ago.

Let us also acknowledge that, at times, the resources mobilized have either arrived late or been distributed sparingly, owing to conditionalities.

At other times still, it is the timidity of political will that is called into question, when it is not simply absent or distorted by selfish considerations, which sometimes take precedence over the general interest and active solidarity between peoples and nations.

Finally, the tools, mechanisms, institutions and frameworks put in place in the aftermath of the Second World War to promote peace, security, and economic and social development are no longer as effective or relevant, given the diversity and complexity of the new realities of the world.

Mr. President, what can we now envisage?

First, a surge of pride, a transcending of ourselves, and a new political will are needed, as well as a new awareness: one that emphasizes the primacy of the general interest; one in which Science is placed at the service of all humanity in order to ensure the well-being of each and every person, in important areas such as peace, security, health, and economic, social and cultural development.

In this regard, we must truly base our action on the Charter of our Organization, its ideals, its principles and its objectives.

We must resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation.

We must promote a pact for a renewed global financial architecture.

We must work tirelessly for the advent of genuine, equitable global development, one that allows all regions of the world to aspire to prosperity and growth. This is, in any case, Africa's ambition, through Agenda 2063 and the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area, whose results are expected in areas such as research, science, technology, energy, infrastructure, communications and telecommunications, agriculture and food, debt, and climate and development financing in general.

Lastly, we must act together for a reform of the Security Council in order to give the countries of the South, and Africa in particular, permanent and equitable representation.

Indeed, it should be emphasized that Africa, in addition to being under-represented on the Council, is the only continent without a permanent presence on this body, even though two-thirds of its activities are devoted to Africa. This is, in truth, an injustice that must be corrected.

That is why we reaffirm our support for the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, calling for 2 additional permanent seats and 3 additional non-permanent seats for Africa on the Security Council.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Cameroon, for its part, is determined to honour its commitments within the various circles of solidarity to which it belongs.

It was thus one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate and, together with other members of the Congo Basin Forest, is actively working to find solutions to climate disruption.

Cameroon is also one of the pioneers in operationalizing the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, and has launched a plan for implementing the SDGs and Agenda 2063, through the adoption of a National Development Strategy, the SND 2030, aimed at making it an emerging country by 2035.

It has also adopted all the reforms necessary to promote sustainable economic and social development and good governance based on decentralization, in order to allow all citizens to participate fully in the affairs of their country.

On the security front, the fight against Boko Haram continues actively, in conjunction with the member countries of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. The results of these efforts are already visible on the ground, even though additional efforts should be made.

In the North-West and South-West Regions in particular, peace and stability are gradually returning, thanks to the diligent actions of the Government following the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue, despite occasional cases of violence or hostage-taking for ransom orchestrated by separatists.

The effective implementation by the Government of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development, as well as the operationalization of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Centres, allow us to look forward with confidence to the lasting return of peace and stability, and the revival of economic and development activities in the two Regions. These efforts will certainly not be in vain.

We take this opportunity to once again thank our bilateral and multilateral partners who continue to contribute to improving the situation, through their support for the various plans put in place by the Government. Their valuable assistance in the fight against the financing of destabilizing activities in these two regions is also appreciated by the Government, which continues to extend its hand to those who have taken up arms and calls on them to lay them down.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world is undergoing profound change. It is therefore up to us to make the right decisions and set the right course to make it better, for the well-being of our populations. We can achieve this, provided we strengthen our solidarity in order to meet our common challenges together.

In this era of digital technology and artificial intelligence, we hold extraordinary tools in our hands. If used wisely, they can enable us to achieve the desired results in order to ensure the survival of humanity and guarantee it a better future.

Thank you.

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