By Doh James Sonkey
The President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya chaired last May 20, 2024 at the May 20th Boulevard in Yaounde, the official celebration of the 52nd edition of the National Day in Cameroon under the theme “Army and Nation: Together for a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Cameroon.”
applauding the march past
At the invitation of President Paul Biya, Equatorial Guinea troops made up of180 men and women marched past in front of the Head of State and other dignitaries invited to live the national event. The visiting delegation arrived Cameroon on May 16, 2024 ahead of the big event. The delegation was headed by Major General Candido Nkogo Engono Nchama, the Vice Minister of Defence of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea accompanied by Colonel Juan Moises Anda Elo, Defence Chief of Staff of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The Equatorial Guinean detachment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Obama Mituy of Customs, marched using two marching steps as they began with the normal marching steps before attacking the presidential tribune and changed to the commando steps known in French as “pas bloqué’’
Cameroon Defence Forces demonstrated their prowess to have a grip on land, the sea and the airspace
The event in Yaounde was attended by a host of state officials including Senate President-Marcel Niat Njifenji, the Speaker of the National Assembly-Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, Prime Minister, Head of Government- Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, Cameroon’s First Lady-Mrs Chantal Biya, Franck Biya, Diplomatic representations in Cameroon, political parties represented in Parliament etc.
This year’s parade was commanded by Brigadier General Melingui Nouma Donatien, the Inspector of Forces at the Defence Headquarters, assisted by Colonel Saidou Abba, Commander of the West Gendarmerie Legion.
Pupils from Government and Private owned primary schools, students from Government and Private owned Secondary and High schools, and students from Cameroonian universities both state and privately owned as well as students from vocational training centres marched past the presidential tribune in celebration of Cameroon’s national unity in diversity.
Political parties display national unity
When the time came for political parties, the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF party whose National Chairman, Hon Joshua Osih Nambangi was in the official tribune marched past with umbrellas passing across a message of unity to the public. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement CPDM led by the Deputy Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPDM party, Minister Gregoire Owona of Labour and Social Security dressed in a modified toghu to insert President Biya’s photo, marched past in their numbers with some militants carrying the effigy of the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya to conclude the exercise.
The second part came up last evening with a special reception offered at the Unity Palace in Yaounde to both Diplomats and national dignitaries by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya and wife Chantal Biya.