Minusca soldiers threaten to hit the streets again

Cameroonian soldiers of the integrated multidimensional Mission of the United Nations stabilization force in Central African Republic (Minusca) have vowed to organize another strike movement if all their premiums are not paid.

As a reminder, the military premiums had been urgently paid on September 10, 2015, after a new movement of some 200 soldiers on the streets of Yaoundé. According to some elements of the contingent of Minusca, “the balance was not paid in full”. This was stated in Le Messager newspaper on Thursday, October 1, 2015.

In addition to the required balance, the military also demanded the payment of the remaining premiums for the integrated multidimensional Mission of the United Nations stabilization force in Central African Republic (Minusca).

The soldiers explained that Minusca, which is an initiative of the African Union, “had to pay them a monthly amount of 700,000 FCFA per month. They received not more than 562, 000 FCFA. For Minusca, under the mandate of the United Nations which took up operations more than a year ago, the soldiers said that "their contract stipulated a monthly allowance of 750,000 FCFA. They agreed to collect only 250 000 FCFA.”

According to the newspaper, “each military demands, at this moment, not less than FCFA 500,000 multiplied by the number of months on mission. There is also some 112,000 FCFA, representing the cost of permission in Central Africa.”

Discussions have been initiated between the high command “which takes the threat very seriously” and the military in anger.

An element of the Navy, who spoke to Messenger, revealed that the hierarchy has promised to solve their problem and "they said we will be paid from now till the end of October.”