If we look closely at the world as it is, with its current wanderings punctuated by tragedies, its solemn commitments and its hypocritical denials, its pious beliefs and its morbid apostasies, its pompous altruistic speeches and its cruel egoisms, its admirable selflessness and its cynical greed, we can see that we are at a crossroads.

Each of the players on the world stage faces the urgent and inexorable imperative of choosing between the only three alternatives available. Either the option of returning to a past marked by the beneficial contributions of a civilising mission that struggled to conceal its predatory appetites, which would later be the cause of world wars. Or a 180° turn towards the paralysing inertia of a Cold War that was nonetheless deadly, and finally a courageous commitment to the path of self-determination, a path that may be utopian but is not as far-fetched as some would have us believe.

Irrespective of threats and recriminations, more and more people today, convinced of their right to a bright future, are deciding to take the bumpy, pithy road to full and complete self-determination. But they must be prepared to pay the price, especially the highest price. Stumbling blocks, banana skins, criminalisation, sanctions, incitement – almost everything is being done to ensure that the ground crumbles beneath the feet of states with strong personalities who now refuse to keep up.

In this obstacle course towards sovereignty, the more experienced must hold the hands of the newcomers, because together we are stronger and can go further. Already, the Cameroonian army’s expertise in dealing with the scourge of terrorism, its multifaceted aid and multi-sectoral cooperation with its neighbours are signs that Cameroon is ready to play the role of launching pad for the future growth of the Central African sub-region.

Our country has an army that is admittedly small in relation to the size of the national territory, the number of inhabitants and the changes in the security environment, an army that cannot reasonably be said to be made up of “warmongers”, but which distinguishes itself by its ability to operate on several fronts, all of which are different from one another, both in terms of their topography and the nature of the threats they pose.

The Cameroonian vision of leadership also includes the ability to inspire confidence, to build alliances and cooperation, and certainly not to instil fear, let alone create or fuel crises and conflicts in its neighbourhood. Cameroon has never served as a rear base or supported any active insurgency on its borders, often to the detriment of the destabilising objectives of certain powers. And when we have had to face the wrath of disillusioned and vengeful actors, we have done so with the strength of our conviction in the emancipatory virtues of peace.

The United Nations and many requesting countries have full confidence in the capabilities and, above all, the goodwill of the Cameroonian army when they entrust it with peacekeeping missions or missions to restore order, security and tranquillity.

Let us remain vigilant. /-