The ceremony, the first of its kind within our defence forces, took place on the esplanade of the new Command Post of the Directorate of Military Engineering, in the presence of defence and security force authorities, all the principal officers of the Military Engineers, delegations of sappers from the various Engineer formations, retired sappers and some families of sappers who died on operations.

It all began with the sealing of the said relics – a ceremonial cap and a camouflage uniform – in the Dirgen conference room, in the presence of the Dirgen, the commanders of the engineering units, Abbé Édouard Essogo, representing the military chaplain, and Njimogni Foupouapouognigni, the chaplain imam. The two men of God prayed that the Lord would welcome home all the fallen sappers.

The ceremony itself was marked by several highlights, including a special address by Colonel Simon NDONGO, NDONGO, Com 41ème Regen, and the burial of the relics in the memorial. Speaking mainly on the occasion, the 41st Regen Commander stressed that this special ceremony was organised on the instructions of the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, to honour forever the sappers who sacrificed their lives for Cameroon. This memorial is a special place of remembrance not only for the families of the sappers who died, but also for all Cameroonians who wish to honour the memory of the sappers who died for their country.

This ceremony is being held as a prelude to the inauguration of the new Command Post of the Directorate of Military Engineering, scheduled for the coming weeks.

Despite the sad circumstances, the vin d’honneur brought together all the generations of sappers. Retired colonel Djempe Fezeu, a former Com Regen and Dirgen who retired in 2005, was the oldest sapper present. During the vin d’honneur, he told the audience about the engineer’s past actions before praising the military engineer’s current achievements, including the Dirgen’s new HQ.