President Paul Biya took the oath of office on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 for another seven-year mandate.

The swearing in ceremony was a historic day full of symbolism and significance. Not only did it see the participation of Members of Parliament, the Supreme Court but members of Government, the Diplomatic Corps and distinguished personalities invited from across the country were in attendance. The swearing-in speech delivered by President Biya after officially taking office equally set the pace for the "great ambitions" which he stated to Cameroonians as a platform for his election campaign.

The ceremony took off at 11:40a.m. when the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yéguié Djibril entered the hemicycle of the National Assembly to declare the solemn session open and recall the provisions of Article 101 (new) of the Constitution concerning the swearing in of the President-elect. The Assembly hall was already full with MPs representing the Cameroon nation, Supreme Court Judges representing the Judiciary arm of government, the Diplomatic Corps representing the international community and a cross-section of personalities drawn from the entire national territory. Before he invited the President-elect to take the solemn oath of office to lead the nation within the coming seven years, Assembly Speaker, Cayaye from the rostrum with the Supreme Court President, Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, recalled the significance of the event. He refered to the October 11 presidential election that took place in a "peaceful, transparent and free atmosphere" and the proclamation of the results by the Supreme Court sitting in for the Constitutional Council on October 25, 2004. The House Speaker accompanied by the Supreme Court President then moved out to the entrance of the Assembly building to welcome the President-elect into the hall.

As scheduled, the President-elect entered the National Assembly at 11:10a.m. The standing ovation he got from the MPs and others demonstrated the significance that all those present attached to the occasion. That inevitably explained why the National Anthem had to be song before the swearing in ceremony began. Welcoming the President-elect into the Assembly, the House Speaker pointed out that the entire nation through those present were not only wishing him total success in his new term of office but also congratulated him for the 70.92% scored he obtain during the October 11 presidential election. Hon. Cavaye then recalled how Mr. Biya has for the last two decades "led Cameroon towards peace, democracy, progress and stability"- thus, his re-election as President of the Republic to continue with the task of consolidating national unity and progress. Noting that Cameroonians are convinced of what the president announced to them at Monatélé, Lekie Division of the Centre Province in his inaugural campaign speech that several other ambitions are still to be attained, the House speaker then invited the President-elect to stand up for the oath of office. That he did and watched the House Speaker and the President of the Supreme Court sign the oath-taking document before the singing of the National Anthem to mark the end of that phase of the ceremony.

The swearing -in ceremony was also full of symbols. As the President himself said, the event to him was not just a formality but of such key importance that it could neither be an issue of a political party nor individuals.

The First Lady and children were all present at the National Assembly to see the Head of State begin this new day of glory and challenges in the life the Cameroon Presidential couple. Photo Speeches