The Unity Palace will open its doors today for the traditional ceremony of new year's greetings to the President. The ceremony which is in two folds, will take place according to the usual ritual as indicated in the programme communicated by the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic. It will take place in the usual hall of the ambassadors on the 3rd floor of the building to accommodate the diplomatic corps.

This will be an opportunity for ambassadors, High Commissioners, responsible business, representatives of international organizations to have fruitful exchanges with President Paul Biya.

This exchange with the diplomatic corps, will definitely see the Dean of this body convey the wishes of his peers to the head of State. This will be followed by the response of the President of the Republic.

Last year, Paul Biya talked on the situation in the Central African Republic. The head of State had clearly hinted that only a United Nations peacekeeping operation was able to work towards the restoration of normal order in this brother country. By a resolution adopted on April 10, 2014, the UN Security Council created the integrated multidimensional Stabilization Mission of the United Nations in the Central African Republic (Minusca).

This structure took over from international support Mission in the Central African Republic (Misca) under the mandate of the African Union. The Minusca, which came in operation September 15, 2014, has as first Commander of its forces, a Cameroonian, major-general Tumenta Chomu Martin.

The second part of the ceremony will see the national bodies submit their wishes to the president of the Republic, a phase which will be opened by the President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji. The ceremony held this Thursday at the Unity Palace will pave the way for diplomats to New Year's greetings to the other personalities of the Republic.