The Pan African Lawyers Union Prize for “Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts” was given to the Head of State His Excellency Paul Biya by former South African President Thabo Mbeki at a brief ceremony that took place at Unity Palace on Friday 6 June 2014.

The lawyer’s delegation was led by Barrister Akere Muna, President of the Pan African Lawyers Union, and consisted several officials, including the President of Transparency International, Huguette Labelle.

Some close collaborators of the President of the Republic attended the ceremony, including the Vice Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali, Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Minister Ferdinand Ngoh, the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice, Jean Pierre FOGUI, the Assistant Director of the Civil Cabinet Joseph Le and Luc Sindjoun, Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic.

In the important speech made at the occasion, President Paul BIYA expressed his gratitude to the Pan African Lawyers Union for giving him such a prestigious price.

The Head of State had praises for those who contributed to the peaceful resolution of the border crisis between Cameroon and Nigeria, especially the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and the successive Heads of State of Nigeria, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and his successor Ban Ki-Moon, as well as the representatives of the four witness countries of the Greentree Agreement: Germany, the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

President Paul Biya expressed the wish that the use of force should be abandoned definitely as a means to settle differences between States.

This can only be possible if States recognise the primacy of international law and the preeminent role of the United Nations.

After the price award ceremony, the President of the Republic granted audience for over an hour to the former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, during which they made an overview of the present situation in Africa in relation to peace and security.

Besides Barrister Akere Muna, the delegation of Palu included Elijah Banda, Mohamed Djimour, Bruce Kyerere and Barrister Sama Francis, President of the Cameroon Bar Association.