Defence Minister, Jospeh Beti Assomo yesterday chaired the testimonial award ceremony for the 11^th batch of officers.

The 11^th batch of officers of the Yaounde International War College (ESIG) has been challenged to use newly acquired skills to solve security crises cropping up across the world. The exhortation was made yesterday July 13, 2016, in Yaounde, by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, while presiding over the testimonial-award ceremony to mark the end of 11-month course in the Simbock-based College.

While congratulating the 52 laureates from 22 countries drawn from Africa, Europe (France) and North America (USA), Minister Beti Assomo reminded them that it was now time to buckle down to work by putting the quality training received at the disposal of their respective countries and the international community.

The Defence Minister expressed on behalf of the Head of State, Cameroon’s gratitude to France for its constant financial and human resource support to the Yaounde International War College since its creation in 2005. He said the College is a reference in military intelligence and geo-strategic planning in Africa, reason why he saluted the quality of training, stating that it is adapted to prevailing security threats such as cross-border terrorism caused by globalisation and emergence.

The French Ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon, stressed the bilateral cooperation between France and Cameroon, stating that her country provides assistance to the College in terms of training, which enables the college to issue diplomas of the same worth like the Paris War College.

ESIG Commander, Major General Ngambou Esaïe, announced that training for the 12^th batch begins in September 2016 with some 62 trainees selected. The college, which he said is at the service of peace, sends out competent, humble and loyal trainees. For 11 months, the trainees upgraded skills in operational and strategic planning as well as geopolitics with trainers drawn both from top military officers and university professors. Majors Wilbroad Muhwezi from Uganda and Basile from the USA told Cameroon Tribune the course has been enriching especially, in the domain of multinational military cooperation in the fight against insecurity.