The ceremony took place at the Headquarters Brigade on the instructions of the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Paul Biya.

The Standard was handed over by the outgoing contingent commander, Noumedem Donfack Francis, in the presence of military authorities and members of the defence community.

Addressing the ceremony, Beti Assomo Joseph conveyed the Head of State’s satisfaction with the contingent’s performance, commending its personnel for successfully completing their mission while respecting the rules of engagement prescribed by the United Nations.

He noted that the soldiers and gendarmes had fulfilled Cameroon’s international commitments and contributed to efforts to restore peace and stability in the conflict-affected Central African Republic. Their professionalism, discipline and commitment, he added, had earned appreciation from MINUSCA officials and the Central African authorities.

Throughout their deployment, the peacekeepers supported efforts to protect civilians and promote security in a challenging operational environment.

The return of the Standard symbolises the completion of the contingent’s assignment and honours the dedication of personnel who represented Cameroon in an international peacekeeping operation.

The ceremony also reaffirmed Cameroon’s commitment to United Nations peacekeeping efforts and its contribution to promoting peace and security beyond its borders.