A Monument of Friendship
Magnificent, imposing, and ultra-modern - the new building that now serves as the seat of the Cameroonian National Assembly deserves all three of these adjectives. A gift from China, the $130 million structure is a testament to the deepening ties between the two nations.
On 30 November 2024, this majestic building was inaugurated under the direction of Cavayé Yéguié Djibril, president of the National Assembly of Cameroon. He was accompanied by Zhang Qingwei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China - an eloquent sign of the closeness of Sino-Cameroonian relations.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking members of the Cameroonian Parliament and prominent personalities such as former FC Barcelona star and current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation Samuel Eto’o, underlining the great importance of this infrastructure for Cameroon.
Architectural marvel
The building is a symbol of the modernisation of parliamentary infrastructure in Cameroon. In his inauguration speech, Djibril emphasised the advantages of the new building, “This building inaugurated today will significantly improve the working conditions for members of parliament and staff. The building now offers a more comfortable working environment, which is a great advantage for the efficiency of the parliament.”
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the building was built by Beijing Urban Construction Group, a Chinese construction giant. The construction of this building has been praised for its technical excellence, which is particularly appreciated in Yaoundé. Praising the building, Martin Bimi, a member of the Cameroonian administration, said, “This architectural masterpiece is unanimously praised by the inhabitants of Yaoundé. Its expressive beauty and futuristic design are a real eye-catcher. With the construction of this monument, China has demonstrated the importance and solidity of our bilateral relations.”
The building includes meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art plenary chamber, and work areas designed to optimise conditions for members of parliament. Modernity and functionality are the hallmarks of this building, which meets the requirements of parliamentarians. Equipped with the most advanced technology, it offers a comfortable and safe working environment. Covering an area of 37,500 square metres, the new seat of the National Assembly includes a hall with 400 seats, a 14-storey office building, a ballroom with 1,000 seats, a parliamentary museum, and two barracks for the gendarmerie and fire department. The building, which took five years to complete, is proof of the outstanding Chinese architecture that is increasingly in demand in Africa.
Deepening ties
This new building is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of the strengthening of bilateral relations between China and Cameroon. The partnership illustrates a shared desire to promote mutual development and prosperity, as reflected in the financial agreement signed in September 2017. This architectural jewel not only enhances the Cameroonian capital’s skyline, but also represents a milestone in cooperation between the two nations.
In his speech, Zhang underlined the close relationship between the two nations. “The construction of this new headquarters is a reflection of our dynamic and solid bilateral cooperation. China remains committed to supporting Cameroon’s development.” These words highlighted the importance of the China-Cameroon partnership and reaffirmed the mutual commitment to progress and prosperity.
Bimi echoed the sentiment. “China is playing a leading role in the construction of cutting-edge infrastructure in Cameroon. The Cameroonian government should increasingly rely on this cooperation to achieve its modernisation goals.”
