The Yaounde population joined residents of Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Congo to electrify the airport.

The later part of yesterday was heavily charged with anxiety and excitement at the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport with the arrival of five Heads of State to participate in the Summit on Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea. All that it takes to make a ceremony eventful was in place both in and outside the airport building.

All the five arrivals beginning with that of Equato-Guniean President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and wife, followed by that of Presidents Boni Yayi of Benin, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo met with great excitement both from the residents of those countries respectively and members of the Cameroonian population, many of them drawn from the Mfoundi as well as Mefou Afamba Divisions.

It was a well organised thread of animation that electrified the airport premises with each dance group or groups from each of the country concerned taking position at the exit of the VIP lounge to wish their Head of State a warm welcome and happy stay in the capital. All the five Heads of state were welcomed at the foot of their planes by the Prime Minister, Head of government, Philemon Yang. And in each of the cases, the Presidents received a bouquet of flowers from a young girl accompanied by words of welcome.

The ambiance at the airport was such that many of the Presidents could not resist moving towards their people the majority of whom could have left with disappointing faces should their President simply wave at them and get into the limousine. Yesterday’s afternoon arrivals  occurred almost at the same time with each plane transporting each Head of state touching down almost at the  heal of the other. There was a smile on the faces of every leader symbolising their determination in putting an end to the insecurity and piracy that have bedevilled the Gulf of Guinea.