Can Cameroon crush Boko Haram?

The answer to the question can only be given after a careful examination of the facts on the ground. Biya made the declaration of war against Boko Haram in far away Paris and reiterated it at Nsimalen while leaving Cameroon for the US.

Many of us still recall that during the “Ghost Towns” strike action in 1991, the president visited Douala after receiving threats not to set foot there. “Me voici a Douala”, he announced while there and encouraged by the applause from supporters, repeated with emphasis “Me voici donc a Douala”. If he thinks Boko Haram is like the “Ghost Towns” operation, let him go to the Far North town where Amadou Ali’s wife was kidnapped and several soldiers killed and declare: “Me voice a Kolofata!” then proceed to sleep there and see what Boko Haram will do to him.

When you declare a war on somebody or a group you move to confront the enemy in his own territory. You don’t declare a war and wait for the enemy to come and meet you in your own territory. The Americans have provided useful examples on what to do after a war declaration.

As soon as the US declared war on the suspects of the attack on the World Trade Centre and the twin Towers of New York, US fighter jets left for Afghanistan, the base of the terrorists.

The argument was that if Americans failed to confront the terrorists at their own doorsteps, they would attack Americans at home as they did on September 11, 2001.

Osama Bin Laden was pursued and killed in the heart of Pakistan. Boko Haram is not hiding like the “Macquis” in the heart of the Equatorial forest in Cameroon. Its head quarters is the forest of Sambisa in Nigeria. Rather than seek Goodluck Jonathan’s assistance, Biya has chose but Idryss Derby of Chad, who, though a former rebel, hasn't mastered the Boko Haram terrain like the Nigerian leader.

The way forward

If Cameroon is to win the war against Boko Haram, its military must collaborate with Nigeria and meet Boko Haram in Sambisa forest or wherever the sect’s headquarters is. The fact we must first face is that, Boko Haram has carried the fight to Cameroon’s own territory. Immediately Biya declared war against the Islamic sect in Paris, Boko Haram launched an attack, killing some soldiers and kidnapping Chinese engineers and carting away ammunition. Not only that. The Nigerian islamic sect is reportedly recruiting jobless and disgruntled Cameroonians. It has reportedly recruited 500 youths from Hon. Cavaye Djibril’s Mayo Sava division.

Biya must also reconcile with fellow Cameroonians. Biya is yet to convince fellow Cameroonians that his policy of empowering fellow Betis and running the country as a personal estate is for the good of the nation. No army, however, well trained, can win a war without the collaboration of the population; especially an unconventional war against a faceless formidable enemy like Boko Haram.

Finally, Biya should also stop carrying fire and water in the same mouth: fighting Boko Haram and negotiating at the same time with them to free those abducted. Neither the US nor Nigeria negotiates with terrorists.