Experts and specialists in air force law are meeting within the framework of a one-week seminar to activate and protect air surveillance centres by the country’s air forces. Military officers taking part in the seminar are discussing ways through which Cameroon’s air space can be better protected from terrorists and traffickers. For one week, 22 participants, including specialists in air force law, will look for ways to reinforce the country’s search and rescue capacities. This entails putting air attacks like bombing under control and reacting to disasters on time. After discussing, proposals on how to better protect the country’s air space will be forwarded to hierarchy for implementation. The air forces will scrutinise and perfect their skills on how to intervene promptly and efficiently in air catastrophes. They will also find ways of stopping unknown planes from landing in Cameroon’s forest and criminals from using the airspace to commit crimes.
Officially opening the seminar at the Yaounde Combined Military Academy (EMIA), yesterday, the Secretary of State in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, urged participants to reflect and come out with a plan on the efficient mastery of the country’s airspace. He called on them to study the official text drawn by specialists in the sector closely and to bring out the different phases that constitute the country’s surveillance and detection centres. In an era where Cameroon is reputed in the international arena for virtues of peace and stability, Jean Baptiste Bokam told military officers to be cautious and work for the maintenance of the merits. Given its strategic position in the Central African Sub-Region and in the Gulf of Guinea in particular as well as its rich potential, the gendarmerie boss told the air force to be diligent and protect the air space from illicit practices.
For five days, airspace technicians including pilots will once more study their working environment while air force specialists on legal issues will define engagement roles as to using airspace. The seminar ends on October 1, 2010.
