CI-NEWS

Protecting North West, South West: Military standing tall after all.

2020-05-25

No: 497

Protecting North West, South West: Military standing tall after all.

As all and sundry pray for normalcy to return to the North West and South West Regions after close to four years of socio-political upheavals, it would be logical to laud the efforts of the country’s defence forces who have fought vigorously to keep the territorial integrity inviolable, the huge challenge notwithstanding.

Cameroon would have lost several inches of its territory to Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), popularly known as ambaboys, had its army not posed as a formidable foe to the separatist forces. In fact, amidst the yoke of extremism characterized by terror and desolation that has enveloped the two English-speaking regions, the country’s defence and security regions have been multiplying strategies to uphold the indivisibility of Cameroon that has come under threat from perpetrators of the anarchy.

The Republican Army has had to stage uncountable ferocious battles to destroy hideouts of armed separatist fighters, seize weapons and sometimes to free hostages. From the North West to the South West regions, the efforts of the defence forces have been growing ever since negative forces took advantage of socio-professional grievances to try to roll out a secessionist agenda which led to generalized violence in the two Anglo-Saxon cultured Regions. The defence and security forces have thus had to strike hard to eliminate bullies that have been giving the population sleepless nights in the two regions over the years.

The multifaceted actions of the Republican Army are in consonance with the convictions of the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Paul Biya, that “... the destiny of our compatriots in the North West and South West lies within our Republic”. The men in uniform have been multiplying strategies to push off the enemy, often risking their precious lives and careers to ensure public law and order, as well as the safety of people and their property.

The defence forces who are being dispatched to the troubled North West and South West are stretching, sometimes beyond limit, to stand the fierce opposition from their fellow brothers and sisters. And this is where the battle is complex. When the Head of State warned, “warmongers who are jeopardizing our national unity and preaching secession”, that they will face not only the fall force of law, but also the determination of our defence and security forces should they not lay their arms and get back on the right track”, President Paul Biya was in other words reminding all and sundry of the crucial role of the defence forces. They are required not only to protect the nation from any external aggression, but also to counter any threat against national unity.

The admirable courage and efficiency with which the defence forces are carrying out the task in the North West and South Regions, sometimes paying the supreme sacrifices, have earned them applause. The Head of State on December 31, 2017 said the security operations conducted to that end had already yielded excellent results.

“They will continue unabated, but without excesses. I congratulate the defence and security forces on the bravery, determination, restraint and professionalism they have demonstrated thus far”, Mr Biya said.

On December 31, 2019, the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces told his fellow compatriots in the two regions who persist in going down the wrong road and continue to use violence that “we will have no other choice than to combat them in order to protect all our fellow citizens. Our Defence and Security Forces will, once again, perform their duty with restraint, but without weakness. I wish to reassure them of my full support and high esteem”.

However, bad grains within the rangs of the defence forces who have showed ugly heads in indiscipline and human rights violations, have often been hit hard by President Paul Biya. The Ngarbuh incident lends credence to his resolute craving to make the defence forces better Republican and people-oriented.

It is such a creed that can make the forces to remain tall in the face of any conflict.

Adapted from Cameroon Tribune

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Protecting North West, South West: Military standing tall after all.