51ST EDITION OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH DAY
# MESSAGE OF H.E. PAUL BIYA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, TO THE YOUTH
Yaounde, 10 February 2017
My dear young compatriots,
In recent years, I have continually urged you to spare no effort to overcome the obstacles that could stand in your way.
I also encouraged you to use your resourcefulness, your creativity and your courage, to secure your future.
I think I have been understood by many of you, like our dear INDOMITABLE LIONS, whose remarkable victory at the recent Africa Cup of Nations brought great jubilation to our people.
The new feat achieved by the Indomitable Lions barely a few weeks after the equally remarkable performance of our Women's National Football Team in a similar competition, confirms the vitality of our youth and demonstrates to the world that "impossible is un-Cameroonian".
During these two competitions, we all admired the talent, courage and patriotic commitment of our young footballers, as well as their capacity to unite in order to defend the national flag.
This determination to serve the Republic is also celebrated day by day among our defence and security forces, as well as vigilante groups which are fighting in unison to protect our country from the Boko Haram terrorist sect.
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My dear young compatriots,
Your enthusiasm to join the defence and security forces at this moment bears eloquent testimony to your attachment to the peace and stability of our country, as well as your burning desire to serve your fatherland.
You demonstrate similar commitment in your various activities which contribute to our country's inexorable march towards emergence.
I would like to congratulate you on that.
My dear young compatriots,
As we prepare to celebrate your Day, I cannot fail to mention the challenges faced by your brothers and sisters in the North-West and South-West Regions.
Due to the strike actions initiated by some trade unions, classes have been disrupted in these regions for several weeks now. I ordered a constructive dialogue between the Government and the trade unions concerned in order to find consensual solutions to the problems raised. These negotiations, which took place within the framework of the ad hoc committees set up to that end, helped to define the issues and determine ways and means to address them.
The Government has already taken some actions to implement the recommendations made by the committees I have just mentioned. Other actions will follow soon.
These efforts notwithstanding, there have been lingering difficulties, especially owing to the emergence of political demands by extremist and separatist organizations. Preaching hate and violence, these organizations have committed or caused serious atrocities against citizens and damaged their property, as well as public buildings and utilities. They have embarked on a campaign of intimidation, threats and violence to disrupt the normal conduct of business and school activities.