Security, “a fundamental condition for economic and social development,” was at the forefront of Paul Biya’s speech during his New Year address to the nation on December 31, 2024. This was also the first domain the head of state entered into in the course of this address. “Thanks to the joint effort of our armed forces, police, administrative authorities, and our people, our nation has remained stable in the midst of an uncertain international environment,” he said.
In the Far North region, still grappling with incursions by armed terrorist gangs, Biya observed that “much ground has been covered in the fight against Boko Haram.” He added that operations in recent years by armed forces in this region have remarkably reduced the capability of these terrorists to wreak havoc, which is now limited to attacks on innocent civilians.
North-West and South-West pockets of conflict reflect the same scenario, where reconstruction operates in a manner described as being in “spite of the atrocities being carried on by armed gangs who seemingly target mainly the non-combatant population”, added the Head of State.
In this address to the nation, Paul Biya, once again, made an appeal to armed separatist movements in the English-speaking regions to lay down their arms, asserting that “the separatist cause which these groups of fanatics claim to defend cannot survive.” He therefore invited them to “seize the peace offer made to them and put down their weapons.” The Head of State reiterated that he is still committed to the defence of a “one and indivisible” Cameroon, as he put it, because “this is the very essence of the mandate that was entrusted to me,” he said.
The President of the Republic expressed his concern in terms about crime in urban centres and in rural areas. This remains “being vigorously fought by law enforcement forces,” President Paul Biya said.