The Minister of External Relations granted two separate audiences to the Ambassadors of the United States of America and Russia on Thursday January 15, 2014 in Yaounde.
International mobilisation for Cameroon’s struggle against the Nigeria-based criminal sect, Boko Haram, is gaining grounds. The United States of America (USA) as well as the Federation of Russia have, through their Ambassadors, assured the Cameroonian government of their readiness to support the war efforts while presenting their condolences to families of fallen soldiers in the Far North Region.
“We wish to express our commitment to support Cameroon in a very very difficult time. Boko Haram is a criminal and terrorist organisation. Its crimes against humanity are unacceptable,” stated US ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Michaël Stephen Hoza, after a one-hour audience with Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, on January 15, 2015 in Yaounde.
The US diplomat disclosed to the press after the audience that the partnership in helping to defend Cameroonian territory and Cameroonian people against Boko Haram was growing by the day. Within the framework of another partnership between both countries in peacekeeping in the Central African Republic, Michaël Stephen Hoza also announced US offers of equipment and training to Cameroonian soldiers.
More than an hour later, it was a visibly concerned Russian Ambassador to Cameroon who also emerged from Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo’s cabinet after an audience with the External Relations Minister. H.E. Nikolay Ratsiborinski told pressmen that he had assured the Minister of External Relations that the Federation of Russia was attentively following the turn of happenings in the Sahelian zone, especially around Cameroon’s border areas.
He said Russia is ready not only to support Cameroon, but is also ready to become a partner in the consolidation of security in the country. “We may expect the arrival of the most modern and state-of-the-art Russian equipment and arms for Cameroonian Armed Forces as well as training of army officers in Russia,” he announced.
Minister Moukoko Mbonjo was also informed that Russian humanitarian assistance was on its way to Cameroon for refugees from neighbouring Central African Republic and Nigeria.
