National Development: Defence, Security Forces On Drivers’ Seat

Cameroon’s Army is a veritable force to reckon with not only in the execution of its mission of defence and security but also in its contribution to national development. Several infrastructure projects in the domains of construction of roads, bridges, hospitals, markets, schools and boreholes, among others, have been carried out by the military. For over the years now, the Military Engineering corps has been instrumental in the infrastructural development of the country, intervening in diverse projects in different Regions. Because of their reliability in high-risk zones, the Military Engineering corps and the Rapid Intervention Battalion often step in to build or rehabilitate roads in areas plagued by insecurity, including the Far North and the English-speaking Regions. In the South West Region for instance, the ongoing construction of the Bangem-Nguti road and the Kumba-Ekondo-Titi road are being done by the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR). In the Far North Region where Boko Haram terrorist group have been causing havoc since 2014, the 205km Mora-Dabanga-Kousseri road rehabilitation which was hitherto abandoned by a Chinese firm due to insecurity, was handed to the Military Engineering department. The military engineers have also rehabilitated farm-to-market roads, disenclaving production basins in the Far North Region in addition to the construction and equipment of 16 boreholes to facilitate population’s access to potable water. The Military Engineering department is also credited for the construction of modern markets in Bertoua in the East Region and Sangmelima in the South Region in collaboration with the local councils within the framework of the C2D projects. In the social domain, the Cameroon Children Institute in Betamba, Mbam and Kim Division in the Centra Region, which today gives hope to the vulnerable children as it offers inclusive train...