On Tuesday, former Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang assumed the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly, calling for global unity to address pressing challenges like climate change, poverty, and conflicts. Yang, who led Cameroon from 2009 to 2019, emphasized the importance of international cooperation and vowed to focus his one-year term on promoting peace and security.
Yang highlighted his presidency’s core principle of “unity in diversity” and pledged to prioritize conflict resolution, particularly in Gaza, Haiti, Ukraine, and Africa’s Great Lakes region. Outgoing General Assembly President Dennis Francis urged the U.N. to live up to its founding principles, stressing the urgency of addressing the staggering human suffering and rising global poverty.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed these sentiments, reflecting on a year marked by extreme weather and ongoing global issues. He urged for renewed collaboration and solidarity as the assembly enters its 79th session. Yang’s leadership will be tested as he prepares for the Summit of the Future on September 22-23 and the annual global meeting from September 24-30, where world leaders will discuss critical international issues.