Cameroon: Soldiers celebrate supremacy over Boko Haram

Cameroonian soldiers in the presence of their defence minister Joseph Beti Assomo, were in a festive mood on new year eve linking the celebration to the weakening of the operational capacity of Boko Haram in 2015.

The celebrations took place at Kidimatari near the border with Nigeria in the Far North region of Cameroon.

“It is now an open secret that Boko Haram has become very weak. It has resorted to very wicked methods by adopting suicide attacks with the local population being the most affected,” Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon’s defence minister said.

The soldiers were feasting while watching the new year message of Cameroon’s president Paul Biya who paid glowing tribute to defense and security forces for a job well done to tighten the noose on the islamic militants.

“The courage and professionalism of our forces and the commitment and courage of our people has helped to preserve our national integrity,” Paul Biya stressed on national TV.

The ability of the Central African country to tackle jihadists was taken seriously when the army announced in November last year that 100 Boko Haram militants were killed and 900 hostages rescued in a special operation

Some critics, however, doubted the authenticity of this claim.

The country has saluted the efforts of the US for its decision to field 300 troops on an intelligence support mission.

The multifaceted support from friendly countries like France, China, Russia and Germany has been hailed .

The president of Cameroon Paul Biya believes joint action is necessary if Boko Haram has to be crushed, “with neighbouring Nigeria, we have honed our methods and mechanisms for concerted action.We should also equally commend the fraternal commitment of Chadian forces on our side on this collective struggle.”