Yaounde: Defence Attachés, Military Advisers brainstorming on cooperation with partner countries.

This is within the framework of the Second Cameroon Military Cooperation Conference which opened in Yaounde yesterday.

The top ranking military officials are carrying out a critical assessment of the prevailing situation on the international scene as well as strengthening peace and security in Cameroon.

Aside this, the conference is also an opportunity for the personnel recently appointed to military missions and offices abroad, to discuss with the Defence Advisers, in order to acquaint themselves with issues of peace, security intelligence as well as attitudes and behaviors in diplomatic circles.

The three-day confab was officially opened by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo.

This was in the presence of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Yves Etoga and some Army Generals.

It is holding under the theme: “Cameroon Military Cooperation in the era of Multipolarity in International Relations,”.

Speaking at the opening of the confab, Minister Beti Assomo called for concerted action in order to continue to shine the image of the Cameroonian military internationally.

“…Our country has seen its image at the international level grow in terms of defence and security. On the high instructions of the Head of State and Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Paul Biya, we have reinforced our traditional partnerships, renew alliances that have given Cameroon a mark of respectability in Africa and the world. The number of our interns taking training abroad has increased tremendously, thanks to offers from our partners. Our defense forces are regularly invited to take part in international conferences and seminars,” the minister said.

The Defence minister also disclosed that several other countries are taking interest in Cameroon’s military training schools, with the number foreign students in these institutions increasing by the day.

He also talked of the growing number of accords signed in the domain of defence and security.

“The number of accords signed in the domain of defence has significantly increased. Several other accords are in gestation, our representatives are in international organisations charged with security issues, notably the United Nations in New York, African Union in Addis Ababa, European Union in Brussel…,”

Conference holding in context of security challenges

Going by Minister Beti Assomo, the Yaounde conference is taking place in a context marked by global security challenges.

He cited the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which he said, has inevitably led to disruptions in the world order and which require strategic vigilance at all times.

The Defence Ministry boss underlined the fact that Cameroon’s defence and security forces have continued a ruthless fight against Boko Haram, ensuring the country’s territorial integrity with regard to the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions amongst others.

 “At the national level, our country has continued with the ruthless fight against terrorism [Boko Haram] alongside neigbouring countries like Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Benin. In the North West and South West Regions, our defence and security forces are continuing with their mission of protecting Cameroon’s territorial integrity and protecting the population and their property. We are not relenting efforts in contributing to the return of total tranquility in the two English-speaking Regions of our country,” Minister Beti Assomo said.

He also regretted the growing threats against Cameroon and its institutions as well as attacks on national symbols.

“These last years, we have also observed new threats against our country and its institutions by some Cameroonians in the diaspora, physical violence on the country’s symbols, tribalism and hate speech,” the minister said.

Key issues under discussion

Participants at the Yaounde conference will exchange on a number of topics, including activism as a new threat to national security, geopolitical environment in Africa and regional security issues, understanding the contemporary Gulf of Guinea in the light of global maritime security and development issues, negotiation and diplomatic communication among others. The three-day conference ends tomorrow.

It should be noted that the first Cameroon Military Cooperation Conference held in 2017.