Youth Day parade under tight security in Yaounde

Armed men in civilian intelligence officers carefully scrutinized the surroundings of event venues in the Cameroonian capital, on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

An imposing security cordon surrounded, Thursday, February 11, 2016, in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital, parades marking the 50th annual National Youth Day due to the psychosis of the attacks of the Islamist sect Boko Haram in the Far North.

Around places of the parade, armed men but also plainclothes intelligence officers carefully scrutinized the surroundings of the places, pedestrians’ hand luggage were also searched.

To avoid excessive crowds, the authorities had not only eliminated the traditional torchlight procession on the eve of February 11, but also the fashion show that was organized in seven districts of the city, instead of the unique parade on the Boulevard du 20 Mai, located in the heart of the city.

In the same vein, scrolling youth supervisors said they had received "strict instructions" to security officials, as well as potential suicide bombers for detecting how they should lead their troops in case of emergency.

Regarding the messages displayed on the banners and other signs, most were in the direction of the fight against terrorism and the preservation of peace. On the eve, the Head of State Paul Biya, in his traditional message to youth, invited the latter to invest in agriculture, and the digital economy.'