French Amb. denies detention of 9 French nationals in Cameroon

Chirstine Robichon, French ambassador to Cameroon has refuted allegations that the main subject of discussions during the recent visit of Francois Hollande to Cameroon was the liberation of some nine French expatriates being detained at the head office of Cameroon’s secret service in Yaounde, commonly known as DGRE.

The french ambassador, sent this statement to Repères, a local French language weekly newspaper in Cameroon.

Reperes, on July 15, published a report with the headline “Les secrets de la visite de François Hollande”, loosely translated as “the secret of Francois Hollande’s visit.”

In the report, the newspaper stated that, nine French men caught fighting alongside Boko Haram are still detained in Yaounde.

Reperes had also stated categorically that the liberation of these terrorists to French hands was part of “all discussions” between French President Hollande and President Biya on July 3, during Hollande’s stop in Cameroon.

However, in the rejoinder, Robichon said, the allegations are false and that no French citizen has been arrested for having links with Boko Haram.

Yet, Reperes is not the first to have reported Boko Haram is benefiting from expertise from France. Chadian Communication minister, Hassan Sylla Bakari, had earlier disclosed during a visit to Cameroon that Boko Haram is using French made weapons.

Robichon, however, had equally denied the allegations which the minister made to Cameroonian media.

As reports of French potential involvement in support of Boko Haram grew in Cameroon, Robichon was humiliated at the 20th May boulevard in Yaounde on February 28 when youths booed and jeered at her, accusing the French of funding and supporting the Nigeria-based terror group.