Cameroon’s 11th peacekeeping contingent heads to CAR.

The 1,070 peacekeepers were dispatched to the neighbouring nation Wednesday. 

This was during a ceremony for the handing over of the standard to the 11th contingent to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA. 

The ceremony held at the esplanade of the Motcheboum Peacekeeping Operations Training School, EFOMP, in Doume Subdivision, Upper Nyong Division of the East Region. 

It was presided on behalf of the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Paul Biya, by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo.

It was marked by the handing over of the national flag to the Commander of the 11th Contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Kenne Tchinda Martial Valère.

Be discipline & of good behaviour 

In his address, Minister Beti Assomo charged the troops commander to lead by example and show no complacency to acts of indiscipline.

He enjoined the deployed peacekeepers to banish all forms of dishonour, favouritism, sexual exploitation, abuse and all deviant acts.

The member of government reminded them of the heavy arm of the law while warning that those found guilty of unprofessional behaviour will be punished accordingly. 

While calling for zero tolerance in the host country during their mission, Minister Beti Assomo encouraged professionalism, unity, devotedness to the mission in order to better foster the already positive image Cameroon has abroad. 

The minister also urged the peacekeepers to make professional use of the mission equipment whose state, after the mission, will determine the financial reimbursement to the government of Cameroon by the United Nations.

The minister also used the opportunity to appreciate the decision of the Head of State for the creation of the International Peacekeeping School in Motcheboum.

“As a country that exports peace, I will also like to express my utmost appreciation for the remarkable presence among us here today, of the high profile political, administrative, religious and traditional authorities of the East Region. This is an eloquent testimony of the vitality of the strong links between the army and the nation of which the Motcheboum site is an illustration,” Minister Beti Assomo said. 

The event unfolded under the watchful eyes of the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Joseph Le; the Governor of the East Region, Gregoire Mvongo; municipal authorities, elite and cross section of the population. 

Enter troops commander 

The Commander of the 11th Cameroonian Contingent to MINUSCA, Lieutenant Colonel Kenne Tchinda Martial Valère, gave a positive appraisal of the state of mind of his collaborators, whom he said are expected to bring back positive feedback by adhering to the exigences of the mission.

“After three months of training, we are being certified, and we think that we are really ready to execute the mission,” Lieutenant Colonel Tchinda assured. 

About 11th Cameroonian contingent 

As disclosed by MINDEF officials, the main partner of the International Peacekeeping Mission to MINUSCA, the United Nations, exceptionally for the 2024 deployment, authorised the training of 750 personnel of the Infantry battalion and 320 gendarmes.

They were drilled by UN accredited Cameroon trainers, within a period of three months, with their certification in July. The 1,070 Cameroonian troops are among the 11,650 peacekeepers in the current MINUSCA mission.

The troops underwent three-month pre-deployment training to acquire skills in shooting, body first aid, land navigation, identification of explosive devices, protection of civilians, human rights.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA, it should be noted, is a UN peacekeeping mission, which started on April 10, 2014, to protect Central African Republic civilians under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Since 2014, Cameroon has participated actively to put an end to the ongoing crisis in the CAR, under the banner of MINUSCA, through the deployment of over 1,000 soldiers and observers annually.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3234 of Thursday September 19, 2024