Held at the esplanade of the newly constructed facility, the ceremony besides top military officials, brought together a distinguished audience comprising the Governor of the Littoral Region, the representative of the President of the Littoral Regional Council, the Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri, the City Mayor of Douala, the Vice-President of the Senate, the President of the Littoral Court of Appeal, the Director General of the Autonomous Port of Douala-Bonabéri, Members of Parliament, traditional rulers and religious leaders.

The new base marks a significant milestone in Cameroon’s efforts to strengthen maritime security and protect strategic economic assets. The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Beti Assomo Joseph speaking during the ceremony recalled that the BIR’s deployment in Douala was driven by the rise of piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea following the transfer of sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

According to the BIR General Coordinator, Brigadier General Pelene Francois operational constraints at the former site, particularly the silting of the quay, limited the deployment of intervention vessels and affected response times. The relocation to the new site, made possible through the support of the Autonomous Port of Douala-Bonaberi, now guarantees round-the-clock maritime operations.

The facility brings together operational, logistical and support services within a single complex, enhancing coordination, efficiency and rapid deployment capabilities.

For the Defence Forces, the new base is more than an infrastructure project. It is a strategic tool aimed at safeguarding the Port of Douala, securing maritime trade routes and reinforcing Cameroon’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.