TSAMTO, May 20. Cameroon has received the first (of two planned transfers) shipment of military equipment to equip the contingent taking part in the peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR).
As reported by Defenceweb.co.za On May 11, the equipment was officially received on behalf of the Head of the Military Department by the Minister-Delegate for Defense to the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Joseph Beti Assomo, during a ceremony held on the territory of the 201st air base in Douala.
The equipment transferred included nine Arquus (formerly ACMAT) Bastion armored personnel carriers, 35 trailers, 24 heavy-duty generator sets, and about 45 vehicles, including ambulances and Land Cruiser trucks.
According to the French group OMP Solutions, which has been supplying equipment to the Cameroonian Armed Forces since December 2014 and is a major partner in providing services for UN peacekeeping operations around the world, the delivery is part of a larger order that will be completed in the near future.
Cameroon has deployed more than 1,000 peacekeepers to the CAR under the auspices of the United Nations Multidisciplinary Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA). They are located in three cities of the CAR: Bossangoa, Buare and Bangui.
According to Joseph Beti Assomo, in order to fulfill the obligations of Cameroon to the international community, in particular, during the UN peacekeeping operation in the CAR, the head of State Paul Biya decided to update the entire fleet of equipment of the Cameroonian contingent of MINUSCA.
The service life of most of the existing equipment has expired and its condition is deteriorating due to wear and tear, difficult operating conditions and continuous use. In addition, at the request of the UN, it was necessary to form a second mechanized company as part of an infantry battalion to increase the operational capabilities of the contingent.
The equipment was purchased by OMP Solutions with funds from the Government of Cameroon. Now about 70% of the equipment has arrived in the country. In the near future, another 24 Bastion armored vehicles are expected to be delivered.
The Bastion BBM was previously adopted by the Cameroonian Armed Forces. At the end of 2017, 15 armored vehicles were transferred to the Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) for use in operations against Boko Haram militants.
