Apprehension in Nigeria as Cameroon Signs Military Agreement with Russia

By Derrick Bangura
There is palpable apprehension in Nigeria, France, and the Francophone nations as it emerged that Cameroon last week signed a military agreement with Russia.

Russia has become a pariah nation with many nation across the globe severing relationship with her after she invaded Ukraine on February 24 and even against the tongue lash she has continue to bombard the East European country.
It was reported that Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon’s Defence Minister made a discreet but remarkable visit to Russian capital Moscow where he signed a new military cooperation agreement between the two countries.

According to the report in one Cameroonian newspaper, the symbolic trip and subsequent signing of the military agreement which came amid Kremlin’s re-launch of its offensive in Ukraine took place on 12 April, 2022.

On April 11, Assomo, the Presidency’s Minister Delegate in Charge of Defence, had left Yaounde for Moscow, where he met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoogou.

Shoogou, who is part of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, initialed the 13-page document on Russia’s behalf.

Details of the signed military agreement stated that it will boost the fight against piracy, ensure terrorism training, search and rescue mission at sea, peace keeping processes and exchange of security information on defence and security on the international domain.

Cameroon despite criticism against Russia invasion of Ukraine has kept mute and the recent signing of the military path may have indicated where she stands.

The Central Africa country boundary Nigeria in the South South and North East during a UN meeting organised on the issue of the invasion of Russia on Ukraine was amongst countries which failed to vote in favour of Russia’s withdrawal.

Cameroon has shared robust bilateral relations with Russia since 2015.

In fact, on April 15, 2015, Russia and Cameroon signed a defence cooperation agreement aimed at boosting Cameroon’s military as it combats Boko Haram militants.

The bilateral technical and military accord was then signed in Yaounde by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o (Cameroon) and the Deputy Director of Technical and Military Service at the Russian Presidency, General Anatoly Punchuk.

This was in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Nikolay Ratsiborinsky and the Defence Chief of Staff of the Cameroonian Army, Lieutenant General René Claude Meka alongside a host of superior military personnel.

The recent signing of the agreement is causing apprehension especially among the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries as the area is a bastion of influence for Britain and France.

Until the signing, Russia did not have a solid foothold in any of the countries of the subregion.

Though the agreement is believed to have generated concern among top government officials in Nigeria, all the top diplomats contacted by ThisDay for comments chose to be silent, pleaded to be allowed to watch as the situation unfold.