Two days of mourning:

Nation pays tribute to victims of military vessel capsize

The entire nation observed two days of mourning on Friday and Saturday, as the Minister of Defense paid also tribute to the 34 soldiers and civilians that sank with the military carrier vessel off the coast of Limbe.

By Mercy Neba in Douala

President Biya decreed two days of national mourning in honour of the departed soldiers

Friday and Saturday were observed as days of mourning for the 34 soldiers and civilians who perished in the military boat, The Mundemba, which capsized and sank off the Limbe Coast, last 16 July 2017. The two days of mourning were decreed by the head of state, President Paul Biya.

                Thus the national flag flew at half-mast throughout the national territory throughout Friday and Saturday, while some people wore black dresses and avoided any form public feasting for throughout the two days.

                Meanwhile, the defense forces also dedicated Thursday and Friday as days to pay tribute to their departed colleagues. A wake keep was organized at the military base in Bonanjo, Douala, Thursday, while the minister of defense presided over a tribute ceremony at the same venue Friday.

                Joseph BetiAssomo decorated posthumously both the 11 soldiers that had been recovered from the sea waters, and the three others who survived the accident.

                The decorations followed a funeral procession that gave needed solemnity to the event.

                BetiAssomo presided over the solemn event as inconsolable parents, children, wives, loved ones and friends spent time wailing and sobbing in visible expression of their desolation.

                But as the berieved wailed and sobbed, relatives and friends of those who survived could not conceal their joy, thanking God for protecting their own.

                The military supply vessel, The Mundemba, sank rapidly about an hour after it set sail around 5am on 16 July 2027 with 35 military and 4 civilians on board.

                Military sources said the majority of the crew were trapped in the cabin and pushed down to a depth of 35 metres by the sand that was contained in the boat.

                So far, rescue teams have recovered 11 bodies, while the search is still continuinng to find the remaining bodies.

                In his condolence message to the bereaved families, President Biya saluted the courage, dynamism and exemplary devotedness of the departed compatriots, saying they will remain models for generations to come.