Defence Forces Showcase Ongoing Modernisation

The military parade and civilian march past at the Yaounde 20th Many Avenue on May 20, 2013 marking the 41st edition of Cameroon's National Day remains historic because of innovations the country's Defence Forces demonstrated during the occasion and also the consolidation of democratic institutions.

History will have it that the first ever Senators of the country were represented at the event chaired by President Paul Biya. More memorable will be the fact that the Senate was represented by the Provisional Bureau chaired by the eldest Senator, 95-year old Nfon Victor Mukete, accompanied by the two youngest Senators, Ahmadou Tidjani of the Social Democratic Front from the Adamawa and Aboui Marlyse of the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress from the East Region. The thrilling performance of a detachment of the Army of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the military parade will forever be remembered. The invitation of the Nigerian army for Cameroon's National Day celebrations comes shortly after the modernization of the Ministry of External Relations in which a Sub-department was created to handle Cameroon-Nigeria cooperation.

The military parade, close sources disclosed, was placed under the sign of modernization, professionalization and regionalization, hence justifying why the Defence Forces from different components displayed recently acquired equipment. The Military Engineering Corps that besides its military mission, also specializes in providing development infrastructure, march past with some of the 30 public works and road construction equipment, the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o received in Douala recently from America partners. The Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR and the Presidential Guard equally paraded with public works and road construction equipment demonstrating their readiness to open access to difficult zones.

The National Police Corps had the number of its squares increased from the hitherto six to seven. The motorized square of ex-UN Peacekeepers received standing ovation from officials and the crowd. Police Communication officers disclosed that the corps marched past with 10 new buses, tankers for transportation of fuel, anti-riot and anti-terrorism trucks. The key innovation in civilian march past was a special square of ENAM students.