The former Prime Minister could replace Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago, who presided over the 78th session last year.

The 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations will take place from the 10th to the 24th of September 2024. Bringing together 193 members, the General Assembly considers and approves the budget of the organisation and determine the apportionment of contributions among member States; elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other councils and organs of the organisation and, upon the recommendation of the Security Council, elect the Secretary General of the United Nations. Philemon Yang, former Prime Minister of Cameroon, is in line for the presidency of this session.

He has just been endorsed by the African Union for this purpose after receiving the support from Central African States. The current Grand Chancellor of the National Orders of Cameroon would be the 14th son of the continent to preside over this body. Philémon Yang would also be the second son of Central Africa to chair the Assembly after Jean Ping from Gabon.

Judge and diplomat, he has held several ministerial posts in Cameroon and was Cameroon’s ambassador to Canada for 20 years. If he becomes president of the General Assembly, he will be responsible, among other things, for deciding which topics to debate, chairing sessions and facilitating negotiations on major global issues.