Mindef, Military Share 'Cohesion Meal'

Diverse dishes featured on the menu of the sumptuous meal at Quartier Général on Sunday.

"In military tradition, it is not common to see the highest and the lowest ranked sitting together, talkless of winning and dining as one. The senior gives orders that are respected to the letter by the underling. But in the spirit of unity that we are celebrating today, that customary senior-junior gap is bridged and that is why I can wine and dine with the Minister of Defence (MINDEF), Generals and other very senior officials in the military." These are the words of a military official who communed with his hierarchy, peers and junior staff on Sunday May 20 in a military meal at the Military Headquarters (Quartier Generale) in Yaounde. The meal, code-named, "Cohesion or common meal" was part of commemorative activities that marked the 40th anniversary of the National Day in the country.

Dishes from the North, South, East and West were on the menu with diverse brands of drinks on the table to depict the diversity of Cameroon. Addressing the military, MINDEF boss, Alain Mebe Ngo'o, said he was bearer of a congratulatory message from the Supreme Commander of the armed forces and Head of State, Paul Biya, on their professionalism and a sense of patriotism displayed before and during the May 20th festivities. The Minister also lauded the presence and participation of a contingent of the military from the Congo. He however expressed regrets with the death of a soldier during the military maneuvers at the 101 military base on the eve of the May 20.

The Secretary of State in charge of National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam and the Secretary of State for Ex-service men, Koumpa Issa, were part of the colourful and heavily attended ceremony animated by the general band of the army and the venerated singer, Greg Belobo.