Consolidation Of Peace Efforts

Issues of national defence are generally viewed as the main preoccupation of the armed forces. Rightly so because they have been trained in such matters and have taken the engagement, come rain, come sun to ensure that citizens live in peace and tranquillity. Defending lives and property has therefore been the traditional mission of the army, gendarmerie and elements of the police forces in Cameroon like elsewhere across the globe. Over the years in Cameroon, the dynamics have taken a flexible twist with greater awareness raised among the population about the important part they play in their own protection by collaborating with those who defend the country. By introducing the notion of Army-Nation in the defence of the interests of the population, the army high-commands under the directives of their Commander-in-Chief, President Paul Biya, has succeeded in creating synergy between the population and the national defence forces.     
Looking at successes achieved in different confrontations the defence forces have been actively involved, this principle of getting the people to play their part in their own protection has been so fundamental. Celebrations marking the 51st Unitary State Day in Cameroon this year 2023 have rightly been carved out to fall in line with such logic of Army-Nation. With the theme: “Defence forces and Cameroonian people, in harmony to safeguard peace and national unity, bedrock of a strong and prosperous Cameroon,” this is to remind everyone that issues of public safety also depend on the vital information and support the population give to their army.     
The approach that worked during the Bakassi conflict, has enabled the country to reduce Boko Haram extremists to hit-and-run tactics in an attempt to regroup.  The army is presently demonstrating how efficient it can be with the realisation by the populations in the restive Southwest and Northwest regions that they have to join the forces in their own security. This cohesion has also been workable in checking cases of insecurity stemming from the influx of refugees from the neighbouring Central African Republic. Years of instability in that country have transformed Cameroon into a safe haven for most of its citizens, some of them carrying along the dangerous weapons and ideas that could be nefarious even to their benefactors. If the Central African Republic and the Boko Haram insurgencies have been easier for the population to join hands with the defence and security forces to stifle, the situation in the Southwest and Northwest regions calls for exceptional professionalism from the forces to obtain a shift in paradigm. Even urban and rural criminality and recent cases of insecurity on some highways in the country have been rapidly tackled by the defence forces thanks to collaboration from the local populations.     
For a conflict that erupted from the hijacking of genuine concerns by the people to the intr...