CAMEROON INFOTREND

MINISTERIAL DEFENCE TEAM SHARES IN NORTHWEST PLIGHT

BY Mildred Ndum Wung Kum

A four man delegation from the central government on mission to Cameroon's Northwest Region met with senior security and administrative officials of the region in what was dubbed a security evaluation meeting. 

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency Incharge of Defense Joseph Beti Assomo, Secretaryof State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie Etoga Galax Yves Landry, Delegate General for National Security Martin Mbarga Ngele and the General Directorate for External Research - Leopold Maxime Eko Eko all met with security and administrative staff of the region.

Joseph Beti Assomo, Minister Delegate at the Presidency Incharge of Defence

led by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency Incharge of Defense Joseph Beti Assomo, they had a closed door meeting Friday November 20, 2020 in Bamenda Capital of the Northwest Region during which the ministetial team devoted hours long scrutinizing the security situation of the region, listening to peoples plight while assuring them of support.

They discussed on the need for more vigilance in security vis a vis the festive Christmas period plus Regional Elections programmed for December 6.

At the opening of the security evaluation meeting, Northwest governor Adolph Lele Lafrique presented a litany of plight plaguing the region; poor roads, material and logistic constraints and the resistance to embrace peace. "We hope you are going to help us to solve some of these problems" the governor appealed as the team listened to the region's plight.

Northwest Governor Lele Lafrique

The governor went ahead to mention the shade of light enjoyed by the Northwest like the existance of vigilante groups, commitment of administrative officials and municipal authorities and traditional leaders who are bent to ensure a return of peace to the region. He also mentioned that collaboration between the population and security forces accounts for the gradual return to normalcy. The governor also said the gradual stability in the region has enabled people earlier displaced from their original settlements to return. 

Speaking on behalf of the visiting team, minister Joseph Beti Assomo encouraged stakeholders in the region in the task they do "at times at the risk of their lives"

He said their presence "attests government's resolve to provide an effective and definite solution to this crisis which keeps tormenting our people". He also emphasized that separatist fighters should avail themselves of the DDR center.

The team from Yaounde visited the military hospital where they consoled the sick especially wounded sodiers.

The ministetial team on visit to the Northwest Region had made a similar trip to the Southwest Region recently during which security issues of the area came into focus.