Today, a palpable anxiety, if not a psychosis, is fuelled by a persistent fear of indiscriminate violence perpetrated by international terrorist groups on virtually every continent. The bombings, attacks, kidnappings and hostage-takings reported daily do little to encourage a change in attitude.
This is particularly true given that we are also witnessing the globalisation of other manifestations of insecurity spreading to all areas of social activity. These include industry and commerce, which are subject to espionage; plant, animal, fish and mineral environments, which are subject to plundering and pollution; and physical and virtual means of communication, which are sabotaged, hijacked or destroyed.
Not to mention the new trade in human beings and organs, as well as the distortion and perversion of politics, education, secular morality, and religious practices. In the current climate, no country is too powerful to be a target, nor sufficiently prepared to counter these dangers.
Security services are on high alert as the danger is omnipresent, pervasive, unpredictable and insidious. Increased checks on public roads, at borders and in buildings, stricter entry requirements, restrictions on migration flows and surveillance of social networks are among the measures that governments are taking to protect their territories.
Cameroon is in a good position to understand the situation, as it has been subjected to repeated attacks and has become the focal point of this conflict. Is this pure chance, an unfortunate coincidence, or a real conspiracy? These are all questions that arise.
However, the fact remains that our country is devoting a considerable portion of its economic, material and human resources to efforts to sink the pirate ship in the Gulf of Guinea, block the shock waves generated by the turmoil on its eastern borders, stifle the transnational ambitions of violent extremism in the north and, last but not least, eradicate seditious adventurism in the west.
Our country is doing a great deal to prevent, contain and reduce the threat, and it can do even more. This three-pronged approach of prevention, containment and reduction is being implemented on an ongoing basis. Although there are still occasional outbreaks of localised violence, the measures deployed to date have been remarkably effective. Nevertheless, with the active support of our courageous people, we can be confident that the terrifying spectre of danger will continue to dissipate.
As professional defence and security workers, we know that cleaning up the toxic environment in which we operate requires us to be vigilant at all times, to be in sound physical condition, and to have a strong character and impeccable attitude in every respect. Above all, we must cultivate the technical skills to deal with all situations — operational or social — efficiently, selflessly, and humanely. Our Fatherland and our Nation deserve it.
Let us remain patriotic.
Let us remain ever vigilant.
