Biya praises Idriss Deby at military academy graduation

President Biya has praised Chadian President Idriss Deby for his contributions in the fight against Boko Haram.

He made the remarks on April 24 at the Military Headquarters in Yaounde while chairing the graduation ceremony of the 33rd and 34th batch of the Combine Services Military Academy, commonly known by its French acronym EMIA.

Biya who was chairing the graduation ceremony for the first time in six years mentioned that the Chadian President was the first to send a contingent of his army to fight alongside Cameroonian soldiers against Boko Haram in the Far North region.

“We will never forget that,” Biya stated, stressing on the need for the graduating soldiers, close to 300 of them, to focus on the security challenges which Cameroon is facing at the moment. After calling for a moment of silence for soldiers who have fallen in the war against Boko Haram, he noted that the 33rd batch was christened the Lt.Youssouf Mahamat Bahar Batch, in honour of a soldier who was killed on March 20, 2011 after neutralizing a gang of pirates.

The name ‘50th Anniversary of Reunification Batch’ he said, was chosen in the context of the recent celebration of the reunification of Cameroon. Biya regretted that Lt. Joseph Ndonkeng, one of the student officers who was supposed to be part of the graduation, was killed while fighting alongside other soldiers on July 24, 2014 in Bagaram, Far North region.

“Generally, this ceremony used to be a ceremony of celebration, but this one is rather a ceremony of reflection and honour for soldiers killed at the war front. He, however, expressed satisfaction, saying that “Our soldiers did better than just protecting themselves and us.

They caused a lot of damage on the enemy and forced them to leave our territory…They are our pride.”

Biya personally affixed epaulets on the shoulders of the best two students from both the 33rd and 34th batches KAKAM SHINDA Hervé Patrice and ADAMOU BELLE respectively. The Minister Delegate at The Presidency in Charge Of Defence, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, Secretary of State at the Defence Ministry.

In Charge of National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, Secretary of State in Charge of Ex-service men and War Victims, Koumpa Issa and the Defence Chief of Staff, Major Gen. Rene Claude Meka awarded epaulets to other students who featured among the best three in both batches.

The rest of the students got their epaulets affixed on their shoulders by other top ranking officers of the armed forces. The 33rd batch of 140 cadet officers included 21 females, and eight foreigners from Gabon, Mali and the Central African Republic.

The 34th Batch had 138 soldiers including 27 females and foreigners from Senegal, Mali, Gabon, Central African Republic, Niger and Benin.

Blenon Hyacinthe, a graduate from Benin told The Cameroon Journal that once he gets back to his country, he will be joining a team of trainers to train the country’s national army. “Apart from physical activities, we had sources on International relations, geopolitics, economics, Political science and law” he said; adding that he is proud to have been trained in Cameroon.

Moussa Essen of Senegal said he is an Ambassador of the Combined Services Military Academy and that when he goes back to his country, he will want to uphold the image of the school. “It was not easy and I am happy that I am among those who succeeded. I will make sure that what I learned here is reflected in my performance in my home country.”

Talking to The Journal, another student, Sheron Ituka Mekole said; “During training, there is no discrimination, we carry out the same physical and pedagogic exercises as men; parachute jumping, PA shooting, weekly walks sometimes covering 10Km, commando alligator maneuvers, handling light and heavy weapons etc.”.

She said the training is challenging but “…I want to encourage all women who are interested in the military. They can make it, if they are determined and ready for the ultimate sacrifice.”