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A New Era of Unity: Cameroon's Presidency at the UN General Assembly
Abstract: Given the relevance of the 79th UN General Assembly Session for Africa and the Global South, particularly in light of the upcoming Summit of the Future, this Viewpoint examines Cameroon's leadership under Philemon Yang.
The United Nations General Assembly Presidency, in accordance with the principle of a four-year geographical rotation, has come to Africa for 2024–25. This time, the honour fell to Philemon Yang, the distinguished former Prime Minister of Cameroon, elected unanimously. Yang’s appointment marks a significant moment as Cameroon takes the helm, becoming the 13th African nation to assume the Presidency of the UN General Assembly. He succeeds Dennis Francis of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), continuing the tradition of global leadership through a diverse and rotating representation.
The General Assembly is the only universally representative body of the UN among other major bodies such as the Security Council, Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice[i]. The non-discriminatory body convenes the 193 member states headed by a rotational President to deliberate, formulate and recommend policies on a range of global issues, including international law, development, disarmament, and human rights. It elects the non-permanent Security Council members and appoints the Secretary-General per the recommendations of the Security Council[ii]. The major feature that sets it apart from other UN bodies relates to its voting structure representing sovereign equality, in which each member state is granted one vote and is not entitled to a veto or any privileged status.
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly was held on 10 September 2024, under the leadership of Philemon Yang, where he articulated his vision and priorities for his term of office. Yang is going to preside over the upcoming Summit of the Future on 22 and 23 September 2024,[iii] which holds immense significance for the Global South, which also includes Africa. Given India’s focus on the Global South, the Foreign Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, congratulated Cameroon’s former Prime Minister on assuming the Presidency, stating that “the General Assembly’s leadership on the priorities of the Global South is crucial and India is committed to playing a constructive role in achieving the shared goals under the new UNGA President’s stewardship”[iv]. In this context, the paper examines Cameroon’s Presidency at the UN General Assembly and its significance for Africa.
Cameroon’s Presidency at the UNGA: Yang’s Vision and Priorities
The Presidency has come to Cameroon among the 53 African states with the African Union’s (AU) support, acknowledging its sacrifices of withdrawing its candidature for the position two times in the past for Uganda and Nigeria, despite having a strong commitment to multilateralism. Alongside this, 11 members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) put their weight behind Yang’s candidacy during their 23rd conference in 2023[v]. It is a victory for the community, as it is the second time a Central African state has held this position at the UNGA following Gabon’s Jean Ping in 2005[vi]. Yang was running with the motto “Support Intercultural Dialogue” and competing for the position with South Africa, which eventually backed off, given the amount of support for Cameroon[vii].
Philemon Yang is the longest-serving former Prime Minister of the Central African country (2009-2019), who has also been serving as the Chair of the AU’s Panel of Eminent Persons since February 2020 with a strong commitment to institutional legal reforms and an unflinching dedication to sustainable development, peace and human dignity[viii]. His candidature endorsement by the AU on the sidelines of its 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in February 2024[ix] is indicative of Yang’s values strongly converging with those of the AU. Such values have also been reflected in his vision statement, which was presented during the informal Interactive Dialogue prior to getting elected for the role.
His early remarks in the Dialogue at the UNGA are crucial to understanding his focus on the Global South, which includes the vulnerable, least developed, small island, land-locked and middle-income countries, including Africa[x]. His vision prioritises global peace and security, focusing on finding long-term solutions, emphasising the conflict and security situation in the Great Lakes region and the rest of Africa, along with the ongoing global conflicts[xi]. He has stressed that the solution to the conflicts is possible only with multilateral consultation and collective capacity, resolving the sowing mistrust around the global community[xii]. He professes to successfully carry out institutional reforms for the Security Council, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council, as well as bringing the Summit of the Future to effective outcomes[xiii].
At the 79th Session, while taking over the Presidency, Yang in his statement made a “clarion call” to the divided world to unite and resolve borderless global challenges, including the intractable conflicts of Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine and Gaza while dealing with climate change, having been succinctly put by the theme of the year, “unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for everyone everywhere.” It includes the three pillars of the UN: peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and humanitarian assistance[xiv].
Yang underlined the UNGA’s prominence as the most representative deliberative body at the global level by describing it as “the lone forum where, based on sovereign equality, States in their diverse opinions meet to jointly seek solutions.” One of the key priorities of Yang will be to take necessary measures to ensure consensus-based decisions are effectively implemented.[xv] At the session, the new African President acknowledged the position of Palestine, wherein it was granted seat in the General Assembly discussions for the first time,[xvi] while also emphasising the collaborative spirit of the UN as a beacon of hope for the peaceful global community[xvii].
Significance for Africa
Cameroon’s Presidency presents an opportunity for Africa, which has usually been at the receiving end of the world, to go forward and represent the Global South, allowing its concerns to be addressed globally. As the preparations are underway for the Summit of the Future scheduled to be held at the UN headquarters in New York on 22 and 23 September 2024, Philemon Yang, at the Session urged the member states to step up their efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the upcoming Summit. The theme for the Summit, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”[xviii] is well aligned with the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.
The African state leadership at the global forum at this juncture is noteworthy as it symbolises Africa’s growing voice in global governance, ensuring that contemporary burning issues are addressed from the perspective of the Global South. Its active involvement in global negotiations is guided by its principle of Ubuntu — “I am because you are,” that precisely encapsulates the Session’s theme of the year, “Unity in Diversity.”
Conclusion
Africa has come a long way from looking at its problems through the external lens to realising its diverse interests and surroundings. Taking on leadership positions in multilateral forums provides a path forward for transforming its perception of being a passive recipient into an active participant and, thus, integrating global problems with the goals of African states at upcoming events such as the Summit of the Future.
The world is at a crossroads, challenged by the global issues of armed conflicts and climate change exacerbating socio-economic issues that disproportionately impacts the Global South. Thus, the 79th UN General Assembly presidency of Cameroon, the 13th African State, represented by Philemon Yang holds utmost significance for Africa and the Global South at large.
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*Nandini Khandelwal, Research Intern, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Endnotes:
[i] “What Is the UN General Assembly?” Council on Foreign Relations, September 19 2024, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/un-general-assembly-unga-role#chapter-title-0-2.
[ii] “UN Structure.” United Nations, www.un.org/en/model-united-nations/un-structure.
[iii] Aydoğan Ağlarcı, Merve Gül. “UN General Assembly’s 79th Session Kicks off with Priority on Resolution of Conflicts.” Aa.com.tr, September 11, 2024, www.aa.com.tr/en/world/un-general-assemblys-79th-session-kicks-off-with-priority-on-resolution-of-conflicts/3326996#:~:text=Yang%2C%20Cameroon.
[iv] “EAM Jaishankar Congratulates Philemon Yang on Assuming Presidency of 79th UNGA Session.” Newsonair.gov.in, September 13, 2024, www.newsonair.gov.in/eam-jaishankar-congratulates-philemon-yang-on-assuming-presidency-of-79th-unga-session/#:~:text=External%20Affairs%20Minister%20Dr.%20S,the%20Global%20South%20is%20crucial.
[v] Bertrand Nua, Doh. “After AU Endorsement: Yang Set for 79th UN General Assembly Presidency in September.” Theguardianpostcameroon.com, February 15, 2024, theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/2286/en/au-endorsement-yang-set-for-79th-un-general-assembly-presidency-in-september.
[vi] Team, News. “Philemon Yang Endorsed by the AU for the Presidency of the 79th UN General Assembly.” Cameroon-Concord.com, February 15, 2024, www.cameroon-concord.com/politics-2/philemon-yang-endorsed-by-the-au-for-the-presidency-of-the-79th-un-general-assembly#google_vignette.
[vii] “Editorial: UN Presidency; Yaounde Can Help Yang Make or Mar.” Theguardianpostcameroon.com, September 12, 2024, theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/4092/en/editorial-un-presidency-yaounde-can-help-yang-make-or-mar.
[viii] United Nations. “BIOGRAPHY of the PRESIDENT of the 79th UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.” Un.org, www.un.org/pga/wp-content/uploads/sites/108/2024/04/Biography-of-PGA-79.pdf.
[ix] Op. Cit. iii
[x] YANG, Philemon. “Informal Interactive Dialogue.” English, French. UNmeetings.org, May 08, 2024, https://estatements.unmeetings.org/estatements/10.0010/20240508100000000/h64bdeedGcal/nqIv6qXo0aPm_en.pdf.
[xi] AP. “UNGA New Prez Calls for Unity to Tackle All Kinds of Borderless Issue.” Bussiness-Standard.com, September 11, 2024, www.business-standard.com/world-news/unga-new-prez-calls-for-unity-to-tackle-all-kinds-of-borderless-issue-124091100067_1.html.
[xii] “Noting Doubts about Collective Capacity to Cooperate, General Assembly President Opens New Session Urging Collaboration | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” Un.org, September 10, 2024, press.un.org/en/2024/ga12622.doc.htm.
[xiv] M. LEDERER, EDITH. “New President of UN General Assembly Calls for Unity to Tackle Borderless Issues.” 8newsnow.com, September 10, 2024, www.8newsnow.com/news/international/ap-new-president-of-un-general-assembly-calls-for-unity-to-tackle-borderless-issues/.
[xv] “UNGA 79 President to Foster “Unity in Diversity” for Sustainable Development.” SDG Knowledge Hub, June 26, 2024, sdg.iisd.org/news/unga-79-president-to-foster-unity-in-diversity-for-sustainable-development/.
[xvi] ANI. “Palestine Takes Seat among UN Member States at 79th General Assembly Session.” The Economic Times, September 11, 2024, economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/historic-moment-palestine-takes-seat-among-un-member-states-at-79th-general-assembly-session/articleshow/113247723.cms?from=mdr.
[xviii] “What’s Going on with the World (and the Future) at the UN? | the United Nations Office at Geneva.” The United Nations Office at Geneva, September 16, 2024, www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2024/09/97544/whats-going-world-and-future-un.
