PM salutes courage and endurance of ex-hostages

Prime Minister Philemon Yang on 28th November 2014 received 14 of 16 ex-hostages released by rebels in the Central African Republic, on behalf of the Head of State.

The ten men, two girls and four boys including a Polish priest were freed from captivity on Wednesday, 26th November 2014 by the Cameroon Military.

One of the former hostages remained in hospital while the Polish Priest, Reverend Father Mateusz Dziedzic returned to Poland before the audience.

The audience took place in the presence of a medical team from the Yaounde General Hospital in Ngoussou that had been providing medical care to the freed hostages.

Addressing the freed hostages, Prime Minister Philemon Yang expressed the Head of State’s joy following their liberation from captivity.

He also spoke of President Paul Biya’s admiration for their courage and endurance while in captivity. The PM saluted the military for efficiently carrying out the operation and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville for being a mediator in the CAR crisis.

Dr. Boombhi Jerome, one of the three medical staff who accompanied the hostages explained that the freed hostages were suffering from dehydration and trauma. He however noted that most of them were in stable condition but need to remain in hospital for observation.

Chief Koulagna Ngamba Joseph, speaking on behalf of the hostages, thanked President Paul Biya for securing their release. He described their 60 days of captivity in the Central African Republic as horrific.

He recounted that they were detained in a tent with chained legs, hands cuffed with very little to eat. The young hostages were forced to fetch firewood and water four times a day from a distance of about four kilometers.

About half of the freed hostages are herdsmen.