The President of the Republic Paul Biya has just presided over the great march marking the 51st edition of National Unity Day.
The ceremony closes in the heart of the capital in a fine rain. Head of State Paul Biya and his wife Chantal Biya return to the Unity Palace after a ceremony he chaired for more than two hours.
Arriving at the Boulevard of May 20 framed by 60 horses and several dozen bikers, Paul Biya settled in the presidential lodge after the execution of the national anthem and the review of the troops.
Having thus opened the ceremony, place was given to the execution of two carrousels. The honour was first given to the music company of the Egyptian army invited to take part in the parade, then Arab sounds, Cameroonian music including Waka waka of Zangalewa and Soul makossa by the late Manu Dibango, the host army adorned with red, white and gold colours, marked his presence and snatched applause. Then, the National Police took over. “Cameroonians all united by destiny, we are one”, the theme of a carrousel that calls for peace and national unity.
At the end of the two carrousels, the military parade opened on the ground while in the sky, we will have noted the passage of eight aircraft engaged by the Air Force and the Rapid Intervention Battalion. The military parade had three phases. The passage of the flag, the parade of troops and the motorised parade, all under the coordination of Brigadier General Bouba Dobékréo. Commander of the troops on the Boulevard of May 20, the product of the aemia greeted the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, at the end of the military parade.
The civilian parade train shook continuously and continued its march to the presidential grandstand. Successively, students from 14 primary schools, 14 high schools and colleges, learners of vocational training, extracurricular structures, have taken steps under patriotic songs. Students from 12 university institutions marked their presence haloed with colours, majorette dance and brass bands.
The civil parade ended with the passage of the authorised political parties represented in parliament. It was in the rain that the guests and parades left the place. The Unity Palace for the Republican banquet then followed at 4:pm.
