Nation recognizes soldiers at war front

The Mindef, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o presided last Friday on behalf of the Head of State, the decoration of soldiers with medals in Yaounde.

"For the valiant soldiers, the country is grateful.” This could be read on the posters deposited at the Cinquantenaire monument in Yaounde last Friday by the Minister for the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o.

The ceremony held in the presence of the two Secretaries of State to the Mindef, the military hierarchy, was very short but symbolic as recognized some time later by Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o.

Mindef chaired the Presentation of Decorations ceremony for soldiers, gendarmes and Yaounde garrison units working in the framework of the fight against the Islamist sect Boko Haram. This was done following the acts of the Head of State on 20 and 22 April.

First, the medal of the cross of the military value and among the recipients were Major General Baba Souley, Chief of Staff of the Army and Admiral Jean Mendoua Chief Staff of the Navy.

The cross of the military value was then awarded to 32 officers and NCOs. Among the awarded were Colonel Didier Badjeck, Chief of the Division of Communication at Mindef, Captain Joseph Tchouatat and Lieutenant Colonel Ghislain Mboutou.

The standards of multi-role unit of the national gendarmerie (GPIGN) and Air Base 101 Yaoundé received the Medal of Valour. Also distinguished in this category were a superior officer, two sergeants and a gendarme.

Among those present at the ceremony were army Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff of the Chadian Army, Brahim Saïd Mahamat.

It all ended with a military parade.