Speech of president Paul Biya adressed in Maroua

Mr. Governor of the Far North Region,
Mr. President of the Regional Council of the Far North,
Mr. Mayor of the City of Maroua,
Mr. President of the Regional Campaign Coordination in the Far North and President of the National Assembly,
Administrative, traditional, and religious authorities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank the Mayor of the City of Maroua and all the other speakers who have taken the floor today for their kind words toward me, my wife, and the delegation accompanying me.

People of the Far North Region,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

I am deeply moved to see that you have come out in such large numbers to meet me.

Thank you for the warmth of your welcome. Thank you for your affection. Thank you for the unwavering support you have shown me year after year — despite the challenges of daily life, despite false predictions, slander, and fabrications.

Yes, dear friends, you have remained faithful to our institutions since my accession to the highest office of the State. You have stood firm, like rocks, in your commitment at my side. You have remained constant in your support of my efforts to make our beloved Cameroon a land of peace and prosperity.

I am not surprised.

I know your courage and your commitment. I know your sincerity. I know your loyalty.

I feel at home among you.

You know my attachment to your region — to its sons and daughters. You know my sensitivity to the difficulties you face. You know my frankness and sincerity.

I have come to speak to you with an open heart, to look you straight in the eyes, and to tell you how much you mean to me and how deeply I care about you.

I am well aware of the problems that concern you. I know the unmet expectations that cause you to doubt the future.

Drawing on my experience, I can assure you that these problems are not insurmountable.

Youth unemployment is a scourge that affects your region, but also all others. It is not a uniquely Cameroonian problem. No country in the world is spared from it.

But we must not resign ourselves to it. Commendable efforts have been made in recent years to offer our young people greater employment opportunities in the public service and across various sectors of our economy. Notable successes have been recorded. These efforts will continue — resolutely. I give you my word.

As I speak, the teams I have set up are working tirelessly on innovative ideas that will enable us to drastically reduce this phenomenon.

I will never resign myself to the current situation. I will not rest until significant progress has been achieved.

Much has already been done, certainly. But I assure you — the best is yet to come.

We will demonstrate greater creativity and ingenuity to facilitate the socio-economic integration and self-employment of our young compatriots.

We will further professionalize education and training at all levels so that learning better matches the needs of the job market.

Substantial efforts will be made to strengthen vocational training in key growth sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and handicrafts — as well as in innovative and high-potential areas such as digital technology and technological development.

We will optimize the numerous youth programs already in place and make better use of existing training centers and business incubators.

At the same time, we will develop specific financing mechanisms to support youth-led projects.

The National Employment Fund will be restructured for this purpose.

My goal, dear compatriots, is for every young person — wherever they are — to have access to opportunities that enable them to find employment easily or to become entrepreneurs. No young person, whether educated or not, will be left behind.

It is indeed an ambitious goal, but it is within our reach. I have no doubt about it. And you must also believe in it — firmly.

I have made a firm commitment that the situation of women and young people will remain at the heart of my concerns during the coming seven-year term.

I will keep my word. You can count on it. Once again, I ask for your precious support in this endeavor.

You know how much importance I attach to improving the condition of women. We have made significant progress in this area over the years, and we will resolutely continue these efforts.

We must intensify our efforts in women’s education and empowerment. We need more women at all levels of responsibility. We will ensure, more than ever before, respect for their rights and protection from all forms of violence.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear compatriots,

I also know your expectations regarding infrastructure — whether roads, energy, education, or health.

Much has already been achieved in this regard, here and elsewhere.

Our network of paved roads has steadily increased over the years and today stands at nearly 10,700 kilometers.

These efforts will continue, particularly along strategic routes such as Mora–Dabanga–Kousséri, Ngaoundéré–Garoua, and Ebolowa–Akom II–Kribi.

Over the past years, we have fought hard to mobilize the necessary funding. These efforts have finally borne fruit. As of now, the companies responsible for executing the works have been selected and have begun deploying to the field.

Work will soon begin.

You can therefore see that your ordeal is nearing its end.

Beyond these strategic routes, I want to assure the people of this region — as well as those of all others — that we will implement a special program for the rehabilitation of degraded roads and the construction of new ones. This special program, backed by substantial financial resources, will facilitate mobility and breathe new life into our economy.

Significant progress has also been made in key sectors such as water and electricity, and we will soon begin to reap substantial benefits from these efforts.

The Nachtigal hydroelectric dam is now operational.

The ongoing construction of transmission lines to carry the energy produced to industries and households will give a strong boost to our economy and significantly improve the well-being of our people. Other energy projects — such as the Bini à Warak and Kikot-Mbebe dams — will soon begin.

We will also ensure the expansion of our solar power plants and the completion of works connecting the northern and southern power grids, to increase energy supply, particularly in the northern regions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you know, our school and university infrastructure has greatly improved. New schools have been built and equipped across the country. The Far North, like all other regions, now has a functional state university and several private higher education institutes.

Progress is also visible in the health sector. Our health map has expanded thanks to the opening of new regional hospitals in Maroua, Garoua, Ngaoundéré, and Bertoua. The rehabilitation and upgrading of equipment in several health facilities have continued.

These efforts will intensify to allow more of our compatriots to access quality healthcare.

People of the Far North,

For several years, you have faced recurrent floods that cause considerable human and material damage.

We have made enormous efforts to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon, which is mainly the result of climate change.

Programs such as the Chari-Logone Integrated Rural Development Project have received my personal attention and should soon yield significant results.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am also aware that your region continues to face serious security challenges.

Under my authority, our defense and security forces have been relentlessly combating incursions by the Boko Haram terrorist group, kidnappings for ransom, and persistent banditry, especially in border areas.

Supported by local vigilance committees and the population, they have recorded undeniable successes.

These efforts will continue with vigor.

I have instructed the deployment of our elite units in the most affected areas of the Logone-et-Chari and Mayo-Tsanaga divisions. I expect a significant improvement in the security situation, which will extend to the entire region.

This improvement will have an immediate positive impact on economic and social life — notably by reviving tourism, agricultural and pastoral activities, and attracting investments that create jobs and wealth.

I will continue to act with the same determination in other regions of our country facing similar security challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
My dear compatriots,

Building a united, peaceful, modern, and prosperous Cameroon is the sacred mission to which — with your massive support — I have devoted myself since assuming the highest office of the State.

Together, we have made significant progress. It is visible, it is tangible. Challenges have certainly arisen, many of which stem from an increasingly difficult international environment.

But we are a courageous, resourceful, hardworking, and united people.

Together, we have overcome many of the obstacles in our path.

We will continue, with firm and steady steps, our march toward progress.

We will resolutely pursue our efforts to revive our economy, improve public financial management, develop new sources of financing — notably through the expansion of the mining sector — strengthen our country’s international standing, and intensify the fight against corruption and the embezzlement of public funds.

We will do so, as always, together — united, in solidarity, and with determination.

I have often said that my determination to serve you remains intact. I wish to reaffirm it today in this beautiful region that welcomes me so warmly and has never failed to support me.

Sons and daughters of the Far North Region, sons and daughters of Cameroon, I have always strived to be worthy of the trust you have continually placed in me all these years, despite the many challenges.

I invite you to join me in continuing this great journey we began together — the building of the united, prosperous, democratic, and stable Cameroon of our dreams.

Long live the Far North Region!
Long live Cameroon!