Yaounde:President Paul BIYA grants audience to the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Michael Stephen HOZA

Cooperation between Cameroon and the United States was again balanced on the scale yesterday, June 30, during a one-hour audience; the Head of State President Paul Biya accorded the U.S Ambassador, Michael Hoza. The meeting which stretched from 12 noon to 1pm was occasion for President Biya and Michael Hoza to renew the commitment of the two countries to fight terrorism in the Far North Region and to take the fight right to the end.

“As I have said before, Boko Haram is more dangerous than ever. We have had some success but the fight continues”, Hoza told pressmen after the audience. The United States which has so far supported Cameroon as well as the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and which is actively partnering with the MNJTF signatory countries (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Benin) in their counter Boko Haram efforts by providing advisors, intelligence, training, logistical support and equipment is visibly determined to provide additional support in the same vein. “We spoke about expanding cooperation between our two countries notably security services and also additional support for the Cameroon military in terms of equipment and training, the details of which will become evident in future”, Michael Hoza said. 

Cameroon it should be recalled has been quite appreciative of the support the United States has been sending in to help in the fight against the terrorist group. Memories are still fresh on the 300 American troops sent to Cameroon along with surveillance drones to bolster effort to counter the insurgents. The troops have been assigned by the American government to conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the areas targeted by Boko Haram. In spite of the positive results registered so far, the U.S government wants to go the extra mile to ensure that the war is fully won. Without giving further details, the American diplomat sounded assuring in the following conclusive words, “rest assured that our cooperation is growing.”

Cameroon Tribune