The Italian Head of State was seen off at the Presidential terminal of the airport on March 20, 2016 amidst a festive ambiance sustained by dance groups. 

The downpour which lasted throughout the departure ceremony in honour of Italian President, H.E. Sergio Mattarella, at the Nsimalen International Airport, yesterday, March 20, 2016, did not diminish the enthusiasm of State dignitaries, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, military detachments and students, who came to bid the guest farewell.

Soaked deep inside their suits, the State dignitaries, alongside President Paul Biya, waved goodbye to the white Airbus A319 military aircraft christened “REPUBLICA ITALIANA” as it taxied from the presidential terminal to the runway before taking off at 10:30 am with President Mattarella and his delegation.

Even as President Paul Biya’s motorcade left the VIP Lounge for the Unity Palace, the drums and songs were still distilled a few dozen metres away on the grassy esplanade facing the VIP Lounge by soaked but cheerful members and dance groups from the Mefou and Afamba South Section of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM. Their beatings rivalled for attention with those by dancers of the Association of Upper Sanaga Women and Girls’ Association, “Nkon Koa”.

They danced in circles, rolled in queues and yelled praise songs to show how happy they were hosting such an illustrious guest during his four-day historic State visit. Students from the African Institute of Computer Sciences, IAI, Cameroon and the National Institute of Youth and Sports, INJS, also added their savvy to the movement. As the soaked carpets were rolled to draw curtains on the visit, all dignitaries returned to the capital with the firm conviction that the visit has ignited the beginning of more visible and fruitful relations between Italy and Cameroon.