Ailing President Paul BIYA reportedly met with outgoing Canadian ambassador to Cameroon, High Commissioner Nathalie O’Neil at Unity Palace on 24 July 2019. The meeting that lasted for an hour examined the Southern Cameroons crisis.

The Canadian Diplomat told a beaming Biya that she hopes Cameroon will be able to gain back its legendary hospitality status as a peace haven deep within the Sub Saharan region.

“People told me before I arrived that Cameroon is a beautiful country. I travelled in eight of the ten regions and I leave with the feeling that Cameroon is a beautiful country with beautiful people” High Commissioner Nathalie O’Neil observed.

“I was received warmly wherever I went to in Cameroon and I wish peace to the Cameroonian people,” she added.

Nathalie O’Neil revealed some details of her conversation with the 86 year old dictator stating that they made a review of her actions in Cameroon since her arrival in 2017 and discussed about working on bilingualism, multiculturalism and the strengthening of women’s economic empowerment, with the latter being a key policy for the Canadian Government.

She equally reiterated Canada’s commitment to support Cameroon in the resolution of the socio-political situation in Southern Cameroons.

Cameroon and Canada have longstanding bilateral ties, established in 1962. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF).

By Besong Esther Agbor with files