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Actualités of Mardi, 30 Décembre 2014

Source: Cameroon Concord

Defense minister justifies army recruitment

Ever since President Biya announced in May that Boko Haram terrorist activities will be a thing of the past and deployed thousands of Cameroonian servicemen to combat the insurgents in the Far North Region of the country, events have taken a dramatic u-turn with the Nigerian Islamic sect raiding Cameroon military camps and systematically killing scores of Cameroon soldiers.

The recent Boko Haram onslaught that took place on Sunday involving approximately a thousand militants prompted the Cameroon Supreme Military Council to authorize the complete engagement of the country’s air force and all mechanized divisions of the infantry located in the Far North and North Regions of Cameroon.

For the first time since President Biya declared an outright war against Boko Haram, Cameroon troops were forced to flee from Boko Haram advancement. Cameroon Defense Minister Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o is reported to have told honourable members of the National Assembly that 20,000 soldiers are needed to reinforce the country's armed forces against Boko Haram militants.

Some political observers have opined that the morale in the army is now at its lowest and slowly but surely fading away. Our chief political correspondent in Yaoundé the nation’s capital noted that a top military brass was not happy seeing soldiers whose services are needed in the Far North region being sent to Nanga-Eboko to accompany President Biya’s wife for a continuation of celebration marking the passing to eternity of the president’s mother-in-law,the late Rosette Mboutchouang.

Speculations are rife that the announced major army recruitment will not attract the younger generation who now think it is time for Mr. Biya to step aside. In the words of our chief political reporter, “some are dying defending the country and others are busy celebrating”. Cameroonians are yet to see a visit to the Far North Region by either the Head of State or his Prime Minister.

Does it not worry the CPDM leadership that neither the First Lady nor the wife of the President of the Senate or that of the Prime Minister did not travel even to Maroua the capital of the Far North region and share a cup of coffee as a Merry Christmas token with our men and women in uniform coming from the Cameroonian people?

It is indeed shameful, disgusting and disgraceful on the part of this Francophone Beti-Ewondo leadership. We of this publication believe that the much anticipated army recruitment is medicine after death.