Senate : Diplomatic, Defence Bills Adopted

Some four bills were on December 4, 2023 adopted by Senators after general debates. The Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji chaired the plenary. The said bills relate to ratifying defence and security cooperation between Cameroon and three other countries. The Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella and the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo responded to questions from the different lawmakers on the pertinence of the legal instruments.
On the bill to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the military cooperation agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Russian Federation, signed on April 12, 2022 in Moscow, Minister Beti Assomo said it is consistent with Cameroon’s partner diversification policy, and with the principles of respect of sovereignty, non-alignment and non-exclusive cooperation. He noted that ratifying the agreement will enable Cameroon maintain a strategic advantage and benefit from the experience of the Russian Armed Forces in fighting terrorism and new security threats.
On the bill to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the framework cooperation arrangement on defence and security between Cameroon and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed on January 10, 2023 in London, the Minister noted that this process will also help to increase the level of British support and training, and to extend it to other component of the Cameroonian defence forces. “With the ratification of this framework arrangement, such cooperation will henceforth have a stable and predictable legal basis. It will provide MINDEF with a benchmark for protecting our country’s interest in its relations with this long-standing and strategic partner,” he told the legislators.
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