The Head of State has resumed the traditional ceremony of presenting New Year wishes to the national constituted bodies and the diplomatic corps at the Unity Palace.

Two years after the suspension of the ceremony of presentation of New Year wishes to the President of the Republic because of Covid-19, the tradition resumes. The constituted bodies will present New Year’s greetings to His Excellency Paul Biya on Friday, January 6, 2023 during a ceremony scheduled for 3pm at the Presidential Palace. For this year, special provisions are to be observed according to the prescriptions transmitted to persons from the private sector invited by the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic.

A covid test less than 48 hours old must be presented at the entrance. It is advisable to include the test result in the invitation ticket. An antigenic test is sufficient. Another particularity is that there will be no handshake.
However, a microphone will be placed in front of the Head of State. When a delegation is called, only the head of the delegation will stand in front of the microphone to wish the President of the Republic of Cameroon a happy new year according to a formula specific to each body. The other members will be lined up behind their head of delegation. After the wish, all will return to their places.

The men in uniform will just do the military salute without speaking. The formula for the economic operators is as follows: “Mr. President of the Republic, the economic operators wish you a good and happy year 2023“.
All the delegations will be positioned inside the hall from 2pm, the deadline for arrival.

In view of these arrangements, the likelihood of seeing any kind of curtsey is almost reduced to zero. During some previous editions, one will have noticed the symbolic and historical gesture of some high personalities in front of the President of the Republic (Minister Bidoung)

Official programme of the ceremony for the presentation of good wishes to the President of the Republic Paul Biya on 6 January 2023

Greetings from the diplomatic corps
12:45-13:25: Arrival and installation at the Unity Palace of members of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors, high commissioners, chargés d’affaires and representatives of international organisations

13:30: end of the installation of the members of the diplomatic corps

14h00 : presentation of the wishes of the diplomatic corps to the President of the Republic
around

2.50 pm: end of the ceremony
Greetings of the national constituted bodies to H.E Paul Biya

12:45-14:15: arrival and installation of members of the national constituted bodies at the Unity Palace

14:30 : end of the installation of the members of the national constituted bodies

3:00 p.m.: presentation of greetings from the national constituted bodies to the President of the Republic
Around

3.50 pm: end of the ceremony