UNITED NATIONS, CMC—In a significant development, former Cameroon prime minister Philemon Yang has been elected by acclamation to become the next president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a role that holds immense global influence. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged the leadership of Trinidad and Tobago diplomat Dennis Francis, who will serve as UNGA president until September, and said his successor will also play an important role.
The UN Secretary-General acknowledged Francis’s leadership, who will serve as UNGA president until September, and said his successor will also play an important role.
“He brings a vital voice to this Hall. He has a wealth of experience representing his country as a diplomat and public servant … He is also a proud African dedicated to the future of his continent,” Mr. Guterres said, adding that he looks forward to working with Yang.
For his part, Francis, who became the first Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador to the UN to be elected to the post last year, said Yang, who also served as the Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Africans of the African Union, demonstrated “unwavering dedication” to the principles of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.
Francis said his steadfast leadership has also been characterized by a consistent commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and inclusivity, which are “essential for guiding the General Assembly’s work.”
Francis said that with the world confronting multiple, complex challenges, he emphasized the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation, urging all member states to work together – and work harder – to ensure nobody is left behind.
“With His Excellency Philemon Yang at the helm, I am confident that the General Assembly will rise to the occasion to meet this challenge with courage and compassion. We can expect his leadership to steer the UNGA towards a future of enhanced international cooperation and multilateralism,” Francis said, instilling a sense of hope and optimism in the audience.
At an informal dialogue with UN members in May, candidate Yang, highlighted his theme for the 79th session as “unity in diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for everyone everywhere”.
The 79th session of the General Assembly will convene on September 10, with the body’s high-level general debate starting on September 24.
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