Besides an unprecedented hectic celebration spanning two days, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces went to Bamenda with a bag full for the military.

Fifty years of existence and the Armed Forces in Cameroon has again been honoured in several spheres. The President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Paul Biya, on his visit to Bamenda from December 8 to 10 to chair commemorative activities marking the Golden Jubilee of the army unfolded a big package to the military.

Thousands of soldiers who thronged the Commercial Avenue ceremonial grounds on Wednesday 8 to listen to the Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces were all smiles when Paul Biya made important pronouncements.

Annulment of the Fourth Echelon

The Head of State announced the suppression of the fourth echelon of the rank of captain to facilitate promotion to the rank of superior officers in the military. Thus, President Biya by that decision, is out to enable military officers in the country easily have epaulettes. He equally decided to harmonise the retirement age of army staff and sub-officers in the gendarmerie.

Emergency Housing Programme

Concerning the living conditions of the military, the Head of State has decided to put in place an Emergency Housing Programme to construct houses for serving officers. He instructed the Defence Minister to finalise negotiations with the national housing loan scheme, Crédit Foncier, for the eventual setting up of a housing loan scheme for the military.

Feeding Allowance

Besides, he ordered a review of their feeding allowance. Emergency studies will also be undertaken for the creation of a health assistance scheme for the military. Very remarkable was his decision to create a Secretariat of State for ex-servicemen.

Perfect Communion

The high point of the meeting between the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the soldiers was at the Bafut Airport where he was given a hero’s welcome and treated to a grandiose reception afterwards. After the military exercise, ‘Golden Lion,’ parachute drops and the guided tour of military stands, the presidential couple sat down to a sumptuous banquet with the troops in the airport’s hall. The Head of State and soldiers dined together in conviviality, with each person taking their turn at the banquet tables.

But before this, he had, for close to two hours, undertaken a guided tour of different military exhibition stands. Passing from the stand of the Air Force to that of the Navy, President Paul Biya was full of admiration for the dexterity of the military. At the Gendarmerie stand where pictures of great men were on exhibition to the stand of the Fire Fighting Brigade and that of the infantry, the Presidential Couple was given the same treatment. Through tight security and despite the hot sun, the Presidential Couple visited all the stands, asked questions and received answers.

To crown it all, the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces unveiled a commemorative plaque, a statue and laid a wreath in a solemn ceremony to honour war heroes. The memorial, the first of its kind in this part of the country, is described as a symbol of recognition for sacrifices made to the nation by fallen servicemen.

Victorine BIY