The President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji led Cameroon’s parliamentary delegation to the dual event on June 30, 2014.

The 125th anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU was commemorated in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday, June 30, 2014 on the theme, “The IPU at 125: Renewing our commitment to peace and democracy.”

One of the hallmarks of the event was the commissioning of Cameroonian-born Martin Chungong, the first ever African to be elected Secretary General of the Union.

He was elected on March 20, 2014 during the 130th general assembly meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, with absolute majority in the first round.

Martin Chungong replaces Anders B. Johnsson who officially retired yesterday after working as the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for 16 years.

The IPU texts provide that the new Secretary General be elected before the term of office of the outgoing one ends.

The President of Cameroon’s Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji led the country’s parliamentary delegation that was made up of Members of the National Assembly and Senators to the dual commissioning and anniversary-commemoration event.

In March 2014, the Senate President equally led the country’s delegation that lobbied for the election of Martin Chungong to the prestigious positions of Secretary General of IPU.

The initial objective of the IPU was the arbitration of conflicts. Over time, the mission has evolved towards the promotion of democracy and inter-parliamentary dialogue.

It has worked for the establishment of institutions at the inter-governmental level, including the United Nations, an organization with which it cooperates and with which it has permanent observer status.

Martin Chungong born on February 17, 1957 in Awing in the then North West Province of Cameroon takes up the job of IPU Secretary General with a rich experience. He was the Deputy Secretary General since October 2012.

He equally worked in the IPU for 21 years starting from 1993 in several capacities.