Former German Minister Annalena Baerbock replaces Cameroonian Philémon YANG as head of the UN General Assembly. The former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany from 2021 to 2025 was elected on Monday, June 2, 2025, as President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, in an unusual vote requested by Russia.The President of the Assembly is elected each year for a one-year term, but this election of a single candidate, assigned by geographic rotation, usually takes place by acclamation.The German politician will succeed Philémon Yang, who is coming to the end of his term. At the age of 44, Annalena Baerbock's candidacy was approved by the group of Western European countries.On June 6, 2024, the General Assembly elected Mr. Philémon Yang, of Cameroon, as President of its seventy-ninth session. Mr. Yang is a diplomat with a wealth of experience.At the national level, he was Prime Minister and Head of Government between 2009 and 2019. In this capacity, he notably represented the Head of State at important high-level meetings both regionally and internationally.He has held other important responsibilities within the Government, namely Vice-Minister of Territorial Administration (1975-1979), Minister of Mines and Energy (1979-1984) and Minister, Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (2004-2009). Since 2020, he has been serving as Grand Chancellor of National Orders at the Presidency of the Republic.At the international level, Mr. Yang was High Commissioner of Cameroon to Canada (1984-2004), where he was Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for 14 years. He has led Cameroonian delegations to high-level economic summits in Washington, London, New Delhi and several other capitals.At the African level, he has participated in various sessions of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, including the Extraordinary Summit on the Institutional Reform of the African Union.He is the Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities of the African Union since February 2020. This group of wise men is, among other things, responsible for examining applications for important positions in the African Union, such as those of the Commissioners of the Union.As part of the activities of the ONU , Mr. Yang was Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.He is also very interested in humanitarian issues, respect for human dignity, the rule of law, respect for nature and the environment, the fight against climate change, and the reform and renewal of the UN.His vision and commitment are based on the ideals, objectives and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations with regard to peace, security, economic and social development, respect for human rights, including the promotion of women, children and persons with disabilities.Born on June 14, 1947 in Jikejem-Oku (Cameroon) in the North-West region, Mr. Yang is a Cameroonian politician and magistrate by training. After his law degree from the University of Yaoundé (Cameroon), he graduated from the École nationale d’administration et de magistrature, then obtained a master’s degree in international law from the University of Ottawa (Canada) and a Master of Business Administration from Century University (United States of America).He is married to Linda Yang and is the father of three children.
By Chifu Edward
Community Radio consultant and Facilitator Tel 67774 91 36.
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