Military officials of the Economic Community of Central African States strategized in Yaounde.
Member States of the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS are preparing to reinforce the operational capacity of the Central African Multi-dimensional Force, FOMAC for it to respond with rapidity and efficacy to the socio-political crisis disturbing the sub-region. The strategy will be tested during a military exercise in Congo in 2014 baptised “LOANGO 2014”.
In order to prepare for LOANGO 2014 whose objective is to formally test the Rapid Deployment Capacity of the regional force, FOMAC, senior military officials of ECCAS member States who are planners of the event were drilled within the framework of a politico-strategy and animation seminars at the Yaounde International Higher War College from February 18 to 22, 2014. Organised by the Cameroon government and ECCAS, the seminars had the main objective to affirm ECCAS’ capacity to carry out with urgency decisional processes to integrate multi-dimensional missions to analyse the elaboration of the mandate. LOANGO 2014 is in conformity with the orientation of the African Union Commission and the third roadmap of the African stand by force, FAA.
In a press briefing at the end of the two seminars, the Congolese Brigadier General Francois Ossele, the Assistant Co- Director of LOANGO 2014 said the planners of the exercise were endowed with the knowledge to prepare political and strategic documents on the general framework of its unfolding. The rapid deployment capacity of the regional force concern the respect of deadlines, number of people to be deployed, material and logistical planning. The animation seminar gave the skills on tactical actions. They left Yaounde with the capacity to simulate actions that could be put in place on the field before, during and after the exercise.
The Focal Point between Cameroon’s Defence Headquarters and ECCAS, Colonel Miss Emmanuel one of the panelist in the press briefing, said Cameroon was present in all peacekeeping operations.
