The mission of General Rene Claude Meka to Fotokol was welcomed by a scene of heavy fighting as for several weeks the Cameroonian forces and Boko Haram have been battling.
To send a message of comfort and also to observe the situation on the gorund with the soldiers of Operation "Alpha" on October 23, 2014, "everything happened as if the visit of the General excited Boko Haram who attacked the Cameroonian army more. They continue to launch rockets on Cameroonian positions at Fotokol," said a source based in the area.
La Messager gathered the military plane carrying the Chief of Staff of the Armed landed in the area at around 15h. Under the fury of the combat, the (scheduled) visit to army posts along the border and Fotokol Ngambarou Ngala did not occurr.
"The aircraft hurriedly lifted off the General to Kousséri where strong recommendations were given to local officials of security forces before returning to Maroua," says our source.
This is the first visit of General Rene Claude to Méka in the Far North interrupted. However, according to some of the security forces near the Far North battle, a new round of battle in the war zone may occur in the coming weeks. Despite the failed visit last week, the Cameroonian army did nothing to guard down.
Indeed, on the night of Friday to Saturday (24 October to 25), they pushed successfully to foil an attempted incursion in Cameroon (Fotokol). The Islamists pushed but lost ten men following the fighting.
"We are in constant response due to control of the nearby border town by terrorists. The situation is taken seriously. The elements in positions do not let their guard down," says an executive officer stationed at Kousséri. He said the Battle of Fotokol has clearly not ended.
