OIF-Cameroon relations: diplomatic niceties at the fore

MINREX granted visiting La Francophonie SG, Michaëlle Jean, an audience yesterday which preceded an enlarged joint working session.

As part of her four-day working visit to Cameroon, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Canadian-born, Michaëlle Jean, yesterday April 14 discussed details of diplomatic relations between her organisation with Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations (MINREX), Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo.

This was during an over 30-minute audience granted the visiting OIF SG by Minister Moukoko Mbonjo.

The audience preceded an enlarged working session between Michaëlle Jean and her delegation on one hand and the Cameroon delegation comprising Ministers and other officials concerned with La Francophonie on the other. Although nothing filtered out of the audience, the depth of discussions during the enlarged working session suggested that the two officials certainly met to set the pace.

At least before focusing on how to step up cooperation for the mutual benefits of Cameroon and La Francophonie; the object of the working session, diplomatic niceties needed to be worked out.

Going by the visiting La Francophonie SG, the working session was a golden moment for Cameroon and her organisation to set records straight on the way forward in their relations especially given the vision of the newly-elected La Francophonie strong lady and that of the country.

She was elected into office on November 30, 2014 in Dakar, Senegal during the 15th Summit of La Francophonie and officially took up duty on January 15, 2015.

Speaking during the working session attended by dozens of government Ministers, Michaëlle Jean described herself as a pragmatic woman who is out to work and it was but logical to jointly examine with the government of Cameroon the cooperation sectors identified and scrutinise envisaged projects to strengthen already existing cordial ties.

While lauding Cameroon’s Head of State for the invaluable role he played in her election, Michaëlle Jean noted that the only way to solidify diplomatic and cooperation ties is jointly identifying and executing projects that are susceptible to improving the lives of Cameroonians and the workings of her organisation.

Meanwhile, Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo noted that Cameroon - La Francophonie relations which cut across sectors like economy, education, culture and sports among others needed to be improved upon with the opportunities at hand.

He said Michaëlle Jean’s visit to Cameroon on the invitation of the Head of State, Paul Biya, and given that it is her first political and diplomatic outing, tells of the acquaintance of the La Francophonie and the personality of the SG for Cameroon which should be fortified for the good of all.