Cameroon soldiers BIR military arm
Hundreds of Cameroonian soldiers who served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) have given the government until October 12 to pay dues owed them or face consequences they would not specify,According to koaci.com, an African news portal based in France.
The soldiers, who say they are owed months of unpaid allowances for their participation in the mission that started in 2014, already held a demonstration in Yaounde on September 9.
“The president of the Republic returned to Cameroon on September 12, 2015 and we are still awaiting the outcome of payment of our premiums for the mission of the United Nations (MINUSCA). If this payment is not executed before October 12, 2015, we will not demonstrate again, but we will make ourselves heard in any other way that will be surprising to many. It’s big money,” according to Koaci.com.
The report also quotes the soldiers as wounded over the revelation that seven Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion (BBR) soldiers who had participated in the September 9 demonstration were summoned to the division of military security in Yaoundé (SEMIL) for interrogation. They said their colleagues were questioned over the demonstration, although no details of the interrogation have yet emerged.
During last month’s demonstration, the soldiers who helped restore some degree of peace in neighbouring Central African Republic marched to the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Assembly demanding immediate payment for their dues.
It was thanks to the intervention of the now former Defence Minister, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o that the soldiers returned to the barracks. However, not until President Biya had hastily promised a CFAF 6billion immediate payment to the soldiers
Biya who at the time was said to be on a private stay in Europe ordered the payment of the allowances to the tune of FCFA six billion. However, that appeared to have been only a promise as the said amount remains to be paid the soldiers.
With recent resurgence of violence in the Central African Republic, the UN will be expecting Cameroon to deploy a fresh contingent of soldiers to the country to contribute to international efforts towards stopping the violence between Christians and Muslims that began in 2013.
The new minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence, Joseph Beti Assomo will have to deal with the soldiers issue as a matter of urgency. It is still unclear why his predecessor delayed executing the presidential directive to pay the soldiers.
