Cameroon Government Spokesman Debunks Rumors Of Tension Between Cameroon and Nigerian Military

Issa Bakary Tchiroma, Cameroon Minister of Communication has denied claims by some Western media outlets that Cameroon is not satisfied with Nigeria’s participation in the war against Boko Haram.  In an interview in the morning of Friday, December 12, 2014 at Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Cameroon government Spokesman and minister of communication noted “We trust the Nigerian government; we do not doubt for a moment that the Nigerian government is not doing what it takes to eradicate this scourge.”

The Communication Minister refused to comment on the functioning of the Nigerian Army over reports that many are constantly fleeing to Cameroon and refusing to be deployed in the North of Nigeria. Said Tchiroma  “I can make a value judgment on the organization and efficiency of the Cameroon army ... but I cannot make any comment on the Nigerian army, which we are really proud is helping us eradicate this evil that has destabilized the economy of the entire region”.

According to Issa Tchiroma, Boko Haram is recruiting Cameroonians from “disaffected, unemployed backgrounds who unfortunately are lured easily with money.”   The controversial Cameroonian politician also hinted that the Terrorism Act recently passed by Parliament appears as a deterrent to prevent both conniving collaborations internally in Cameroon and to deter some people who thus fall under the lure of easy money and indoctrination-a law that, he reassures is not intended to restrict freedoms as expressed by several politicians from the opposition and civil Society.