Cameroon intensifies military response to Boko Haram in Far North

The Cameroonian government is intensifying its military and community-based response to the resurgence of Boko Haram in the Far North region. During a security meeting in Maroua involving Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, officials addressed the deteriorating security situation in areas such as Logone-et-Chari, Mayo-Sava, and Mayo-Tsanaga.

To bolster defense, the President has ordered the deployment of a new unit named ‘BIR Lac Tchad,’ consisting of over 1,000 personnel, with 800 commandos already positioned near Fotokol. Additionally, military engineers are set to construct a new barracks on approximately two hectares of land in Waza. The Special Amphibious Battalion will also be utilized to secure border waterways.

A key component of the strategy involves the reactivation and re-equipping of local vigilance committees. These community groups, which have provided intelligence and support since the 2014 insurgency, have seen a decline in activity and have suffered significant casualties. The government aims to provide these volunteers with better protective equipment and logistical support to serve as early warning systems alongside regular military, gendarmerie, and police forces.