Mrs Chantal Biya, was prominently present in activities marking the 15^th La Francophone summit in Dakar.

Conviviality reigned amongst several First Ladies in Dakar, Senegal, over the weekend as they accompanied their husbands for the just-ended International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) 15^th Summit. The hospitality that Mrs Chantal Biya and her mates shared in Dakar was not only seen when they all met during the early hours of November 29, 2014 at the Dakar International Conference Centre - CICD, to participate in the opening session of the summit which focused on the theme, “La Francophonie’s Women and Young People: Vectors for Peace and Actors For Development,” but also later during the day at a special lunch offered by the First Lady of Senegal, Mrs Marieme Faye Sall.

At the Dakar Conference Centre, Mrs Chantal Biya and some eight other First Ladies listened to issues concerning countries that have the French Language in common. More particularly to the First Spouses was the theme of the summit which revisited the major role played by women and young people, especially in the current climate of economic difficulties and political tension.

Being present at the opening session of the summit was certainly of great benefit to the First Ladies, especially Mrs Biya who on a daily basis, is working out strategies to improve the living standards of women and vulnerable children in Cameroon and beyond through her organisations: the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), Pan-African NGO, African Synergy Against AIDs and Suffering and the Chantal Biya Foundation.

The warmness perceived amongst First Ladies at the summit was greatly noticed when they all boarded the same bus for the luxury Terrou-Bi Restaurant to dine during a special lunch offered by the host First Lady,  Mrs Marieme Sall.  The Ladies were cordially received at Terrou-Bi Hotel (which means ‘welcome’ in one of the local languages, Wolof).

Women and dance groups lined-up along the hotel entrance to salute the arrival of the First Ladies. During the lunch in honour of First Ladies attending the 15^th summit, some 100 guests, amongst which were former and present female ministers of Senegal, Mali as well as female Directors General, and the wife of the out-going Secretary General of IOF, Elizabeth Diouf, joined the First Spouses to savour Senegalese meals.