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Cameroon Deploys Troops Ahead of February Elections

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   About 400 military police officers arrived in Bamenda from Cameroon's
   capital, Yaounde, recently, vowing to defend the country's territorial
   integrity.

   A similar number of armed police officers also arrived in the
   English-speaking southwestern town of Buea this week.

   One of their commanders, Colonel Henri Tchinda, said the government
   dispatched the officers to make sure peace is maintained in the
   English-speaking northwest and southwest regions before, during and
   after the joint local council and parliamentary elections.

   He said the government is strongly committed to ensuring that the
   elections take place in total peace and serenity all over the
   English-speaking regions, and the troops have been sent to protect
   candidates, civilians, public buildings and electoral material. He said
   they are asking civilians to have confidence in the troops, especially
   now that the crisis is gradually ending.

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