Joseph Beti Assomo made the call yesterday January 11, 2016 while receiving New Year wishes from the personnel of the Ministry of Defence.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo has called on the Defence Forces to uphold discipline which constitutes the principal force of the Army. He was speaking yesterday January 11, 2016 at the esplanade of the Ministry of Defence in Yaounde while receiving best wishes of 2016 from the staff of his ministry.  

Joseph Beti Assomo said the courage, loyalty, vigour, honour and professionalism exhibited by the military in the fight against the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, should continue in 2016 until victory against the enemy is attained. The Minister Delegate in charge of Defence saluted the bravery and determination of the defence forces in combating Boko Haram while paying homage to soldiers who were killed in the war front against Boko Haram and in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

The Defence Forces, he added, will not only pursue the fight against the Boko Haram insurgent in 2016 but will also continue with resilience to combat maritime piracy, highway robbery, cyber criminality, maintenance of law and order amongst others so as to permit the country live in peace and security for economic growth to thrive.

Minister Beti Assomo condemned in very strong terms, public demonstrations by military personnel last September prescribing secrecy and discreet in military affairs. “The military has to abstain from public demonstration”, he cautioned while promising sanctions to perpetrators.

The New Year wishes ceremony that was void of handshakes attended by the Secretaries of State in charge of the National Gendarmeries and Ex-servicemen and War Victims, Jean Baptiste Bokom and Koumpa Issa respectively was also an opportunity for the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rene Claude Meka to salute the determination and courage of the soldiers in defending the national territory.

While paying tribute to the fallen soldiers and civilian victims, Lieutenant General Meka urged the Defence Forces to combat the enemy with their last energy while upholding discipline which he described as a mobilisation force in the army.