At New Year wishes ceremony: MINDEF boss calls for more discipline to effectively combat security threats.

He gave the instruction Friday January 12 while receiving 2024 New Year wishes from military and civilian personnel of the ministry. 
The annual ritual, at the esplanade of the Ministry of Defence, took place after the presentation of New Year wishes to the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Paul BIYA, last Friday, January 5, 2024.
The event was attended by the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etoga; the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of Ex-Servicemen and War Victims, Koumpa Issa, the scribe of the ministry, saïd Kamsouloum. 
Also present were top brass of the military led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Rene Claude Meka; other military officers, non-commissioned officers, petty officers, the rank and file; ex-servicemen, civilian personnel of the ministry as well as special guests. 
Speaking at the event, Minister Beti Assomo, praised the defence and security forces for battles fought in 2023, as in previous years, to guarantee the territorial integrity of the nation, protect the population and their property.
Such battles, he noted, were “carried out with vigour, patriotism, honour, loyalty and professionalism”. He stated that successes achieved will help in consolidating stabilization and the gradual return to normalcy in parts of the country facing security crisis.

Call for more discipline
The Minister was categorical that there must be more discipline within all compartments of the armed forces across the country, in order to be able to meet the numerous challenges in 2024 and validly and effectively contain them.
Discipline, Minister Beti Assomo reiterated, is not a “cliché or a slogan but the main strength of the armed forces”. 
“This is why, while I congratulate the High Command on its firmness in monitoring the discipline of the men under its authority in 2023, I ask it to be even more demanding and uncompromising in this area in 2024,” he stated, while urging all defence and security forces to, in all circumstances and in all places strive to earn the trust of citizens especially those who have not violated any law. 

Harping further on the issue of discipline within the corps, the minister warned that: “Any form of gratuitous harassment, abuse of power or authority must be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Defence Forces General Disciplinary Regulations”
He used the opportunity to draw the attention of the defence and security forces of all the sanctions awaiting indiscipline personnel. 
Such indiscipline, he said, if tolerated, “will flout the hierarchical rules of career management, be a breeding ground for favouritism, complacency, indiscipline and frustration for disciplined and deserving personnel”. 
He said acts of indiscipline, will be monitored more closely in 2024, and those found wanting duly punished.
Sanctions, he insisted, “will apply to those who, in defiance of military regulations, perform acts or make remarks that smack of identitarian withdrawal or allegiance to personalities other than those provided for in military regulations, all acts of deviance or defiance that could cast doubt on their loyalty to the Institutions of the Republic and those who embody them”.
He also tasked military commanders at all levels to adhere to the prescriptions and clear reminders of his ministerial circulars N°239299 and 239300/CM/MINDEF/01 of December 29, 2023, respectively on certain principles and rules relating to military status, and on principles and rules relating to military honours to be paid to certain civilian authorities.

Pledge to consolidate peace, combat security threats 
Minister Beti Assomo urged the defence and security forces not to relent but continue in same show of patriotism and professionalism which aimed them praises from Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Paul Biya, in a morale-boosting statement during his end-of-year address to the nation last December 31, 2023. 
He said this year, the ministry will pursue the total eradication of the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists sect, the consolidation of the security situation in the North West and South West regions in order to further consolidate the return to normal socioeconomic life, intensify fight against maritime piracy, hostage-taking, the supervision of refugees on the territory, fight against organised crime, road insecurity, the maintenance of public order throughout the national territory.
These efforts, he explained, is to enable the country enjoy a climate of peace and security that is essential to its progress towards development and emergence by 2035. Beti Assomo said efforts to strengthen the protection of men engaged in theaters of operations, and to increase the number of both supervisory and operational personnel, will also be pursued. 
The MINDEF boss said the participation of the defence forces in civic and development actions will also be strengthened, with an even wider deployment of Military Engineers to open up certain hard-to-reach localities, on the basis of the High Instructions that the President of the Republic may give.

Homage to fallen personnel, best wishes to injured officers 
Minister Beti Assomo used the ceremony pay homage to military and civilian personnel of the ministry who died in 2023.  
He also hailed the commitment and bravery of the soldiers injured in the various operations taking place nationwide, some of whom have recovered, while others are still undergoing treatment or at the stage of convalescence or rehabilitation. 
“All of them have the support of the High Command. Our wish is that they continue to receive from their comrades in arms and all the medical and health services and structures of the Armed Forces and the Gendarmerie, the care, attention and comfort necessary for their recovery and, ultimately, their socio-professional reintegration. In any case, the Army never abandons its service members who are sick, injured or simply in difficulty,” he said. 
The minister announced the commissioning, this year, of the centre for the reception and treatment of personnel severely wounded on operation fields. 
He said the construction of the centre, opposite the Yaounde Military Hospital, has already been completed, and will have a capacity of 350 beds. 
“It will soon be fully equipped and ready for use,” he promised, while also revealing that the haemodialysis centre at the Yaounde Regional Military Hospital, equipped with 10 brand-new ultra-modern generators, has just resumed its activities for the benefit of both military and civilian patients.

Enter Chief of Defence Staff
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Rene Claude Meka, underscored the importance of discipline within the defence and security corps, respect of hierarchy and other professional ethics. 
He also warned different security commanders against neglect of junior officers placed under the command.
Lieutenant-General Meka saluted efforts made by the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in responding to the needs of the forces. 
The event was graced by musical performances from military artists, FAP Music, the National Gendarmerie music band. There was also amination by celebrated artist, Locko, whose father served at the air force before his demise.
Also, movie producer and actor, Kang Quintus, used the event to thank the ministry for the multiform support and collaboration offered him to produce of the movie titled: ‘Nganou’.