US Hails Cameroon’s Professionalism in War against Boko Haram
By Waineng Wanmbui
The United States of America has, through its representative in Cameroon, Ambassador Peter Henry Barlerin, praised Cameroon for the professionalism its armed forces have demonstrated in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the Far North region. The US diplomat who was received in audience by the Head of State, President Paul Biya on Thursday spoke to reporters shortly after.
The fight against Boko Haram was but one of the several subjects that the two personalities talked about. Ambassador Peter Henry Barlerin who was meeting President Paul Biya for the second time since he arrived Cameroon last year, told reporters that he congratulated his host for the victorious actions of the army against the Boko Haram sect. Note that the US is supporting Cameroon in the fight with 300 of its soldiers deployed to Garoua.”We have completed operations that have been successful in the Far North region. It’s a long-term job, but the cooperation we have with Cameroon is very good,” the US diplomat stated, adding that the efforts made by the Cameroonian government to allow humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross to access detainees arrested as part of the fight against terrorism in the region is laudable.
The collaboration of his government and the Cameroon government in the fight against terrorism is multidimensional. Since 2015, the 300 US military personnel deployed to Garoua have been providing aerial surveillance and intelligence-gathering in the fight against Boko Haram. The Special Forces are stationed in Garoua, in the North region, where they provide direct technical and logistical support to Cameroonian forces engaged in the offensive against the so-called jihadist group.This month, the US government reinforced its logistical support to Cameroon. Two C-208 Cessna aircraft worth about at about FCFA 24 billion were delivered by Ambassador Peter Henry Barlerin, on behalf of his country, to the Minister Delegate for the Presidency, in charge of Defense. , Joseph Beti Assomo. They are surveillance aircraft capable of flying day and night, and can provide real-time information, through video and photography, radio communications, to operational commands
The Ambassador is reported to have delivered a letter to President Biya sent by US President Donald Trump on the occasion of the celebration of the 46th anniversary of the National Day. President Paul Biya and the his guest used last Thursday’s meeting to revisit the rich and intense cooperation between Cameroon and the United States, particularly in the field of security.