Cameroon: Defenceannounces a change in strategy against rebels

By Doh Bertrand Nua

The attack which occurred Ngoketunjia, in the country’s North West region. Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Joseph BetiAssomo,days after the attack, stormed the Bamenda, the regional capital of the restive area, announcing a change in the military strategy against Ambazonia fighters.

During the visit, the minister held a meeting that brought together top military and administrative officials of the region to review and appraised the ongoing peace-building operations with the short-term objective of ensuring the free movement of goods, people, and economic activities in the North West and South West regions.

“…a change in tactic whose details I cannot give…appropriate readjustments and actions which will be deployed without delay, because in this matter, action cannot go hand in hand with incantation,” the minister said.

He added:”The High Military Command and myself, dispatched by the President of the Republic, is in the aftermath of the bloody and treacherous attacks on the  Defence and Security Forces by separatist fighters who are obviously equipped with sophisticated weapons and benefiting from human and external material support”.

He said that a new paradigm with regards to the security situation already in the process of being consolidated in the two English-speaking regions, warrants a change of approach by the military.

Read more: Cameroon: Reconstruction committee of conflict-hit regions seeks int’l funding 

The minister saluted the forces on the ground who have on a daily basis braved fear and threats and providing their civic support.”We hail and encourage the defence and security forces for their tenacity,”BetiAssomo said.

Meanwhile, he recommendedthe soldiers to exercise serenity, action, determination, honour and loyalty. He said the recent separatist attack should not affect the morale of the soldiers, stating that the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces retains all his esteem and confidence in them.

Minister BetiAssomowarned those who have engaged in populist campaigns aimed at demoralising the military that their tactics are well known and will be countered.

“The country needs peace with sincere and patriotic support of all its sons and daughters in accordance with the policy of the Head of State asking all these compatriots irrespective of their location to lay down arms and allow a return to normal life and for the implementation of reconstruction projects already decided by government with support from partners,” he said.

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