Cameroon-France: Military Cooperation Growing Higher

A French military official discussed security issues with the Head of State.

The Commander of the French force in Gabon (EFG), General Charles de Kersabiec was at the Unity Palace on December 1, 2016 where he had discussions with President Paul Biya. His visit came to strengthen military cooperation between Cameroon and France that got a booster with the establishment of the defence partnership between Cameroon and France in the agreement signed on May 21, 2009.  

A concrete manifestation of growing military cooperation came on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 when the Ambassador of France to Cameroon, Gilles Thibault handed to the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo the symbolic keys of military equipment destined to Cameroon’s special forces. The equipment that cost about FCFA 450 million reports say, consisted of 10 tactical vehicles and five transport trucks, including an all-equipped sanitary unit.

These vehicles were also said to be equipped with weapons and transmission equipment and are accompanied with precision rifles, helmets and bullet-proof vests. The equipment, the ambassador said, was part of the French assistance to the Cameroonian forces to fight against the terrorist sect Boko Haram that is responsible for killings, abductions and destruction of houses and property in the Far North Region.

Tuesday’s donation was the second gesture of the kind from the French government this year 2016 as in January France provided Cameroon with military armour to aid the country in its fight against Boko Haram. The equipment consisted of an assortment of vehicles and tactical war weapons.  The then French Ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon is quoted as s...