During Women’s Day celebrations on March 8, 2016 in Yaounde, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie acknowledged their courage.
Female soldiers of the National Gendarmerie corps engaged at the warfront in the northern part of the country against the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, have been praised for their unwavering courage and bravery. While presiding over a festive common meal with civilian and military female staff of the National Gendarmerie corps on March 8, 2016 at the Camp Yeyap barracks in Yaounde, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, urged them to remain confident that their defence of the fatherland and preservation of territorial integrity will not be in vain.
After the march past to mark the 31st International Women’s Day in Yaounde, the female staff of the National Gendarmerie corps gathered around their boss and through the department’s Gender Focal Point, Colonel Elisabeth Mindzie, praised hierarchy for progress made to ensure gender equality in their administration. Also speaking on their behalf, Major Huguette Mvogo noted with satisfaction the change in recruitment policy that instituted at least 10 per cent female recruits for every gendarmerie recruitment examination. In training, female gendarmes are admitted in all internships while appointments now put women in several levels of command. As example, there is one Legion commander, one Regional Gendarmerie Headquarters chief of staff, two military tribunal presidents, over 200 company commanders and a multitude of brigade commanders. “But we don’t yet have a director or a general,” the spokeswoman noted. A grievance supported by the Special Guest and Coordinator of the “More Women in Politics” Network, Pr. Justine Diffo.
In response, Jean Baptiste Bokam revisited the path covered to demonstrate hierarchy’s awareness of the woman’s undeniable role in command but urged them to sustain their quest for excellence and good work because promotion to higher grades and appointment to posts of responsibility require the permanent culture of discipline, respect of hierarchy and moral rectitude, amongst others.
