Philémon Yunji Yang
Encyclopedia
Philémon Yunji Yang is a Cameroon
ian politician who has been Prime Minister of Cameroon
since 30 June 2009. He was previously the Assistant Secretary General N°1 of the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, with the rank of Minister, from 2004 to 2009. He served in the government from 1975 to 1984 and was Cameroon's Ambassador to Canada
from 1984 to 2004.
, located in the Bui Department of the Northwest Province of Cameroon. After studying law at the University of Yaoundé
, he became a prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Buea
in January 1975. He was then appointed as Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration in the government named on June 30, 1975, before being appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy on November 8, 1979. He remained in that position for more than four years before being excluded from the government that was named on February 4, 1984. He then became Ambassador to Canada on 23 October 1984, remaining in that post for 20 years; his title changed to High Commissioner
when Cameroon joined the Commonwealth of Nations
in 1995. He also served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada for about 10 years. Moreover, he was well respected and liked within the African community in Ottawa, Canada
.
Yang's time in Ottawa was dedicated to securing more foreign aid for his country, despite human rights abuses and Canadian concerns about corruption
. Along with other representatives of African countries, he was pleased by Canada's commitment to debt relief
in 2000. Yang lived in Ottawa's Grenfell Glen
neighbourhood during his long stint as High Commissioner. He headed Cameroon's delegation to the negotiations on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
from February 1998 to January 2000, and after the Protocol was adopted on January 29, 2000, he became Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol (ICCP).
He remained High Commissioner to Canada until he was appointed as Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency of Cameroon on December 8, 2004. He left Ottawa on December 17 and was installed as Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency on December 21. Later, Yang was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation in late December 2008.
President Paul Biya
appointed Yang as Prime Minister on June 30, 2009, replacing another anglophone, Ephraïm Inoni
. Yang's appointment marked the largest government shakeup since his predecessor was named Prime Minister in December 2004. Biya stated on state radio that three ministers from the previous government had switched places, six new names were added while six portfolios were cut entirely. The opposition said that it did not expect a great deal of change due in part to the continuance of a large government. They had been hoping for a cut to thirty ministers; the real number remains in the sixties. The reshuffle was believed to have been spurred on by public anger over rising food prices and the discontent with the high level of government corruption. Adding to this, the move was seen as an attempt by Biya to shore-up support for the next presidential election in 2011. In addition to Yang, new ministers were appointed for defence, posts and telecommunications, communication, education, women promotion, water and energy, and sports.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian politician who has been Prime Minister of Cameroon
Prime Minister of Cameroon
Under the current constitution of Cameroon, the Prime Minister of Cameroon is a relatively powerless executive. While the Prime Minister is officially appointed to be the head of government, the President retains most of the executive power and can fire the Prime Minister at will.-History:The...
since 30 June 2009. He was previously the Assistant Secretary General N°1 of the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, with the rank of Minister, from 2004 to 2009. He served in the government from 1975 to 1984 and was Cameroon's Ambassador to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1984 to 2004.
Biography
Yang was born in Jikejem-OkuOku
Oku is Sub Division in the Northwest Cameroon. The term Oku also refers to the people who live in this region and the primary language that they speak . Oku is a rural area containing about thirty-six villages...
, located in the Bui Department of the Northwest Province of Cameroon. After studying law at the University of Yaoundé
University of Yaoundé
The University of Yaoundé is a leading university in Cameroon, located in Yaoundé.It was built with the help of France and opened in 1962 as the Federal University of Yaoundé, dropping the "Federal" in 1972 when the country was reorganized....
, he became a prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Buea
Buea
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The town is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon and has a population of 90,088 . Buea was the colonial capital of the German Kamerun from 1901 to 1919,and the capital of the Southern Cameroons from 1949 until 1961...
in January 1975. He was then appointed as Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration in the government named on June 30, 1975, before being appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy on November 8, 1979. He remained in that position for more than four years before being excluded from the government that was named on February 4, 1984. He then became Ambassador to Canada on 23 October 1984, remaining in that post for 20 years; his title changed to High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
when Cameroon joined the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
in 1995. He also served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada for about 10 years. Moreover, he was well respected and liked within the African community in Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Yang's time in Ottawa was dedicated to securing more foreign aid for his country, despite human rights abuses and Canadian concerns about corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. Along with other representatives of African countries, he was pleased by Canada's commitment to debt relief
Debt relief
Debt relief is the partial or total forgiveness of debt, or the slowing or stopping of debt growth, owed by individuals, corporations, or nations. From antiquity through the 19th century, it refers to domestic debts, in particular agricultural debts and freeing of debt slaves...
in 2000. Yang lived in Ottawa's Grenfell Glen
Grenfell Glen
Grenfell Glen is an upscale neighborhood located in the south end of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Grenfell Glen is a small community of about 150 houses surrounded by woods that are part of the National Capital Commission's Greenbelt.Pinhey Forest, named after Charles H. Pinhey, is located...
neighbourhood during his long stint as High Commissioner. He headed Cameroon's delegation to the negotiations on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement on biosafety, as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.The...
from February 1998 to January 2000, and after the Protocol was adopted on January 29, 2000, he became Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol (ICCP).
He remained High Commissioner to Canada until he was appointed as Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency of Cameroon on December 8, 2004. He left Ottawa on December 17 and was installed as Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency on December 21. Later, Yang was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation in late December 2008.
President Paul Biya
Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. A native of Cameroon's south, Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as Prime...
appointed Yang as Prime Minister on June 30, 2009, replacing another anglophone, Ephraïm Inoni
Ephraïm Inoni
Ephraïm Inoni is a Cameroonian politician who was Prime Minister of Cameroon from 2004 to 2009. He was a long-time aide of President Paul Biya and is a member of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement...
. Yang's appointment marked the largest government shakeup since his predecessor was named Prime Minister in December 2004. Biya stated on state radio that three ministers from the previous government had switched places, six new names were added while six portfolios were cut entirely. The opposition said that it did not expect a great deal of change due in part to the continuance of a large government. They had been hoping for a cut to thirty ministers; the real number remains in the sixties. The reshuffle was believed to have been spurred on by public anger over rising food prices and the discontent with the high level of government corruption. Adding to this, the move was seen as an attempt by Biya to shore-up support for the next presidential election in 2011. In addition to Yang, new ministers were appointed for defence, posts and telecommunications, communication, education, women promotion, water and energy, and sports.