Anglophone Crisis:

Biya Reorganizes the Army as Secessionists Prove Tough

-B’da Now Hosts Military Head Quarters 

Brigadier General Agha Robinson Ndong

The president of the Republic has signed a decree creating a 5th military region in the country with head quarters in Bamenda. The joint military region that controls the Northwest and West Regions was carved out of the 2nd Joint military region that was headquartered in Douala, Littoral Region. The 2nd Military Region before now controlled the Littoral, Southwest, West and Northwest regions.

            The presidential decree signed on Wednesday February 21 splits the former 2nd military region into two. The Southwest and Littoral remains under the 2nd Military Region with headquarters in Douala while the Northwest and West now form the 5th military with HQ in Bamenda.

The reorganization comes following numerous criticism and complaints from soldiers on the field about poor coordination and slow ripostes due to distant command posts. The presidential decree brings the command posts closer to the field of operations in the war against Anglophone separatists.

            The same decree also creates a 5th gendarmerie region covering the West and North-West, which also has its headquarters located in Bamenda.  Brigadier General Agha Robinson Ndong, was appointed commander of the new 5th Joint Military Region, and Brigadier General Essoh Jules Cesar was entrusted with the command of the new 5th gendarmerie area.