The Republic of Cameroon on Tuesday May 20, 2014 celebrated its 42nd National Day at the Golden Gate Hotel, in Paynesville outside Monrovia.

The day was celebrated under the theme: “The Army And The Nation: Building Synergy To Preserve Peace And Security, The Guarantee Of Integration, Stability And Socio-Economic Development”.

The Cameroonian Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Mr. Beng’Yela Augustine Gang, delivering his country’s Nation Day Message said the theme for the May 20^th National Day celebration was chosen to reflect Cameroon’s national context and concerns.

He said the celebration is just a very few months after Liberia joined them to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Reunification of the two Cameroons; an event which glorified the occasion when the English-speaking and French-speaking sub-entities that resulted from their complex colonial experiences, and especially from the post-First World War settlements between the colonial allies, recovered their oneness.

Ambassador Gang then stressed that for the first time in history, Cameroon has, since 2013, sent a strong military contingent into a neighboring country:  the Central African Republic. He further revealed that President Paul Biya has just participated in the Paris Summit of 17 May 2014 on the question of Security in Nigeria.

Ambassador Gang used the occasion to speak to his Cameroonian compatriots residing in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone when he insists on the need to show similar steadfastness and focus. “You must stand with, and behind, our leadership and government as we jointly face new challenges; new and subtle actors that seek to undermine and derail us and you must continue to do so without resorting to the cheap, simplistic language that vilifies other fellow citizens by gratuitously insulting or inculpating their ethnic, cultural or religious differences. We are all witness to how simplistic cultural and religious vilification has been the undoing of other, sometimes, older nations,” he remarked. 

He said Cameroon counts on its friends and neighbors. He stressed that in recent weeks, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Education of Liberia have paid important visits to Cameroon. Bilateral discussions were held.  Already, the number of Liberians studying in technical institutions in Cameroon is in sharp increase. Cameroonian citizens and businesses are establishing themselves here.

“This is what Ambassador should take pride in, Mr. Minister, and the determined Government of Her Excellency Madam President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, of his unrelenting commitment to fulfill his duties in this noble and mutual quest for ever more rewarding friendship”, the Ambassador noted.

He then used the occasion to extend special congratulations to President Johnson Sirleaf and the authorities and people of Liberia for the calm and efficient manner in which they have responded to the recent Ebola outbreak.  He also congratulated the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Mr. Brima Acha Kamara and his spouse, the Deputy Ministry for Administration  of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Hon. Una Kumba Thompson , foreign diplomats and government officials attending their National Day Program.

Making remarks, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Una Kumba Thompson extended greeting on behalf of His Excellency Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan who is out of the country attending some official engagements.

Hon. Kumba lauded Ambassador Gang for his government’s harmonious relations that exist between the two countries are based on a deep sense of mutual respect for the interests and wellbeing of its peoples.  

Acting Minister Thompson recalled that Liberia was the first country to establish a Diplomatic Mission at the Ambassadorial level in 1960 with the appointment of Ambassador Francis Marshall as Liberia’s Ambassador to Cameroon. She said Cameroon has contributed immensely to developing the talents of young Liberian athletes especially soccer player:  “Liberia would not have produced a world best soccer player had Cameroon not opened its doors and stadiums to players such as George Oppong Weah who won the world best title in 1995”, she stated, adding that the two countries share a phenomenal similarity. She cited the Bassa tribe that is in Liberia and Cameroon at the same time.