Cameroon: Will Paul Biya successfully demystify the military?

The reaction of Cameroonians to men in uniform is as, alarming, old and threatening as the presence of colonial masters in Africa and Cameroon (in particular).

But as Cameroon celebrates National “Unity” Day, things are losing their masks gradually.

The Ministry of Defence has invited and urged Cameroonians to go closer to men in uniform at the 101 air base in Yaounde in a bit to understand how they operate. This, they say, is to make the military a little familiar with civilians, in line with the theme of this year’s National Day  which entails harmony between the military and civilians.

Through this encounter, most Cameroonians will fall in love with the profession and join it as soon as possible. This is another objective of the move.

However, the secrets of the corps will not be revealed to civilians, the message reiterates. 

This is a wonderful move to be lauded by many, especially those who have had any dark memory about the men in uniform in Cameroon.

People who have had a foretaste of the brutal presence of the “white man” in Africa may tell you better.

I can still recall a certain day when a friend recounted a hyper-shocking story to me. That was in 2012 in Ndop (North West Region).

A certain member of the Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR) had returned home for a break just to find out that his sister was pregnant.

Without any delay, he took matters into his own hands and gave the author of the pregnancy the kind of cruel beating that only Jesus Christ can explain its twists and turns.

He was a “BIR” and nothing could be done against him.

The same drama happened in a village in the same Region, not far from Ndop, after all.

Another “BIR” beat a man to death on the grounds that the latter had made his sister pregnant.

In fact, these two are just isolated cases in a line of uncountable life stories.

The presence of men in uniform can only be likened to the dreadful thought of hellfire, for Christians, most importantly in rural areas where most people do not know their rights.

We may not have to cite cases in our village where people just offer drinks to gendarme officers like water flowing down a river. And to an outsider, it gives the impression that the villagers are generous to a fault, even more than the Bible recommends.