Military protest: Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o under pressure

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence (MINDEF), Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o would be under fire. The protest of September 7, 2015 in Yaounde involving more than 200 Cameroonian soldiers returning from the Central African Stabilization Mission under the auspices of the African Union, could be the stumbling block of this baron of the Yaounde regime.

In its edition of Friday, September 18, 2015, the daily Mutations Newspaper said that the case caused a stir, especially since we have never, in the history of Cameroon, seen soldiers outside the barracks protesting in the street. The paper said for some observers, the Mindef failed in his duty of: Coordination and control of defense forces, one of the tasks assigned to his ministry. "If not, then how do we understand the discontent of the military whose beginnings were already visible internally?" Mutations newspaper asked. It also added that he is rumoured to have received information about the strike.

Recognizing that it could be the object of his fall, Mebe Ngo'o is taking steps to ensure that such a situation does not happen again. The daily Mutation quoted his speech on the occasion of the installation of the commander of the 3rd Joint region, Fréderic Ndjonkep Meyomhy, last Wednesday in Garoua (North). He called on the commander to meet "all rights" of soldiers. "Particularly in the allocation of premiums of FCFA 2000 and the war premium that is FCFA 30 000," while he must "ensure respect for discipline ranks, guarantee correctness and efficiency in the execution."

Discussions are now underway, including Mindef as to whether the "demonstrators" should be punished or not. Mutations newspaper indicates that Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o has the reputation of being a "bogeyman". This was illustrated by the sanctions taken against the "cops ripoux" from the time he was Delegate General for National Security (DGSN), a position he held from 2004 until his appointment in 2009.

As Delegate General for National Security, we remember the sanctions he had taken on 24 September 2006, with the revocation of three police commissioners accused of corruption.

Will Meba Ngo'o show the same firmness in the case of the military? The question remains. One thing remains: this native of Sangmélima in the Dja and Lobo (head of department of the State), certainly will obey the instructions of the "high hierarchy".