Biya decorates seven outgoing French military attachés.

It was done in compliance with a decree signed on May 5 by the Head of State, President Paul Biya. 

The decoration ceremony was presided by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Jospeh Beti Assomo.

The Secretaries of State to the Minister of Defense, French Ambassador to Cameroon, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, the Defense Advisor of the French Embassy, as well as other senior military officials, friends and family members, attended the ceremony. 

Among the seven personnel of the French Military Cooperation who were decorated with the Knight of the Order of Valour, on an exceptional basis, is Colonel Solignac Jean.

Meanwhile, Knights of the Cameroonian Order of Merit, on an exceptional basis were conferred on Colonel Tavet Sylvain, Lieutenant Colonel Blondeet Thierry, Lieutenant Colonel Massot Christophe, Lieutenant Colonel Coste Frederic, Major Senior Warrant Officer Chaigneau Jean-Philippe, Second Class Chief Administrator of Maritime Affairs, Royer Sebastien.

Speaking during the ceremony, French Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Thierry Marchand, saluted the Franco-Cameroonian military collaboration and hailed the Heads of States of both countries for their continuous collaboration.

He said France has substantially increased her offer for training of Cameroonian soldiers based on the principle of transparency, balance and positive advocacy. 

“This logic is linked to a proposed security partnership developed at the level of the African continent which already includes a network of many national schools of national education offering specialised training for both military and police officers,” the diplomat said.

Marchand said the outgoing officers have had sincere friendships with their counterparts in Cameroon.

“These are the links created between mutual acquaintances that also make up the richness of their stay,” he stated, adding that the ceremony also illustrates the partnership that unites the two countries. 

Enter Minister Beti Assomo

Minister Beti Assomo noted that the medals are in recognition of the efforts and remarkable works of the soldiers. 

“…for two or four years, the officers and non-officers of the French Cooperation have worked for the reinforcement of our cooperation,” he said. 

The minister said during their mission in Cameroon, they have made great efforts to strengthening the defence and security partnerships between both nations by implementing projects in the name of justice and values, determination and devoutness.

“I express our appreciation for your very positive collaboration with us during your time in service in Cameroon. I especially salute the honorable and memorable works by Jean-Jérôme…and recognise the quality of his advice, his discretion, his humility, as well as the great courtesy he showed during his stay here at the Cabinet of Minister. We had great pleasure working with him,” the minister said.

Cameroon’s participation on May 8, 2025, at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, through a detachment of the main army unit to commemorate the victory of May 8, 1945, the minister said, still constitutes an eloquent illustration of the quality of friendship between both countries.

“The presence of our military in Paris on May 8, at the memorable ceremony, presided over by His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic and Head of the French Armed Forces, has been a strong gesture of friendship towards Cameroon, as the country was lone non-member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation invited to this consensus,” Minister Beti Assomo said. 

Excellent ties between Cameroon, France

Minister Beti Assomo hailed the ties between Cameroon and France which he described as excellent and fruitful. 

“I express our deep gratitude to the French government for its actions in favour of the Armed Forces and future actions that are part of the effective implementation of the partnership of defense between our two countries,” he said.

He insisted that the official visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Cameroon in July 2022, has clearly given a new dynamic to operations between them.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3479 of Friday June 20, 2025