Cameroon to contribute 2,450 troops to regional task force

Cameroon will mobilize 2,450 soldiers to participate in the Joint Multinational Task Force (MNJTF) in the fight against Boko Haram, which will be made up of a total 8,700 men, the Minister of defense announced in a press release on Friday.

“The president of the Republic of Cameroon has authorized the deployment of a contingent of 2,450 men as the contribution of Cameroon to the Joint Multinational Force", said the statement of the Minister Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o, read on national radio.

According to the text, President Paul Biya also appointed Brigadier General, Valère Nka, as the Deputy Commander of the multinational force. Another general, Bouba Dobekreo, was appointed commander of the first sector of the MNJTF in Mora, in the Far Nnorth of Cameroon border with Nigeria.

These two senior officers were promoted generals by Mr. Biya on Thursday. General Valère Nka held the position of Defense Attaché with the High Commission of Cameroon in Nigeria, while Bouba Dobekreo was the Coordinator General of the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), an elite unit of the Cameroonian army, at the front line in the fight against Boko Haram.

The release said that head of the Cameroonian state made these appointments in accordance with the resolutions of the extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Committee of the basin of Lake Chad (Clbt) and Benin organized in Abuja on June 11, dedicated to the fight against the Nigerian Islamist group.

Cameroon is engaged in a regional coalition to fight against Boko Haram alongside Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Benin. This coalition aims to mobilize 8,700 men, mainly soldiers but also police officers and civilians, to fight in a concerted way the Nigerians Islamists within the MNJTF. Benin has already announced its intention to mobilize 800 men in this force whose deployment is still expected.

The force, whose headquarters is based in N'Djamena, will be led by Nigerian General, Iliya Abbah, Muslim infantry officer and native of Northern Nigeria.

The Extreme – North of Cameroon has become the target of regular deadly raids and kidnappings carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, who now use suicide bombings, who have suffered attacks for two years.

Five suicide bombings were recorded in the region during the month of July, causing about 50 deaths.