Ahead of February 2020 Twin Elections:

Army, Gendarmerie Chiefs Review Security Strategy 
On the instructions of President Biya, the minister of defense, Joseph Beti Assomo, on Monday, 2 December, held a special security meeting with army and gendarmerie top brass at his cabinet. The Minat and DGSN were also invited to the meeting.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Defense Minister Beti Assomo chaired the special security meeting

On the instructions of President Paul Biya, the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo, on Monday 2 December, presided over a strategic meeting to evaluate the security situation of the country ahead of the twin Parliamentary/Municipal elections billed for 9 February 2020.
    Holding in the conference hall of the Ministry of Defense, the meeting brought together top brass of security services in the country including Army Chiefs of Staff, heads of military and gendarmerie services in the ten regions, heads of specialized army and gendarmerie services among others.
    Also present at the in camera meeting were the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul, the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, the Secretary of State to the MINDEF in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Yves Landry Etoga, and the Secretary of State to the Mindef in charge of ex-servicemen.
    Speaking at the opening, Beti Assomo said the meeting was aimed to assess the security situation of the country and take appropriate measures to ensure peace and stability throughout the country before, during and after the twin elections in February 2020.
    The meeting also seeks to review security dispositions in the country before and during the festive periods on Christmas and New Year, Minister Beti Assomo said.

    The brainstorming meeting on Monday was convened under the context of the raging conflict in the NW and SW regions; the unending Boko Haram terrorist insurgency in the Far North region, rebel incursions in the East region, hostage takings in Adamawa and growing insecurity in the economic capital Douala owing to the massive influx of displaced persons fleeing the war in the two English speaking regions.
    Flanked by the MINAT and the DGSN, the MINDEF Beti Assomo said that President Paul Biya could not stay indifferent in the face of all these challenges, reason why he instructed him to convene the special security meeting with the army and gendarmerie top brass.
    He used the occasion to exhort the populations in troubled areas to have trust in and collaborate with the army and to help soldiers deployed to the field to better protect and defend them.
    To the defense forces, the Mindef enjoined them to be professional and to ensure neutrality in the exercise of the functions.
    The meeting was expected to come up with concrete resolutions which would help the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Paul Biya, to give instructions and guidelines to ensure security before, during and after the February 2020 twin elections and during the festive period in December.