(Business in Cameroon) - The day after the Nigerian Islamist sect’s first attack in Chad, an extraordinary summit was held by COPAX in Yaoundé. The meeting was much like a war council for both CEEAC countries facing the threat of Abubakar Shekau’s men.

The presidents of Cameroon and Chad reaffirmed their determination to fight the Islamist sect Boko Haram on February 16, 2015 in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, where the Central African Peace and Security Council (COPAX) held an extraordinary summit. The objective: to organise a joint response to Boko Haram’s criminal activity. Both presidents also raised contradictions between the discourse and actions of the Islamist sect which has professed its aim to establish an Islamist State.

IN TOTAL UNISON

According to the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, the war “is not at all a crusade against Islam, neither is it a war of civilisations. The reality is simple. On one hand, ours, we have the tenets of a modern, tolerant society that guarantees human rights, including the rights to religion and democratic representation. On the other hand, that of Boko Haram and similar movements, there are supporters of a tyrannical, ignorant society that has no regard for human dignity. You will agree with me when I say that these two societal models are completely incompatible and so compromise would be impossible. We must therefore put an end to terrorist actions and activities. We must eradicate Boko Haram.” President Biya paid “fraternal” homage to the President of Chad who sent a contingent of 2,500 soldiers to fight alongside the Cameroonian army.

In his role as President of the CEEAC, Idriss Déby, made similar remarks about the sect’s intentions. “The paradox of this attack is that people of Muslim faith, for whom they allege they are fighting, are paying the heaviest price.   To face this threat and in the spirit of solidarity, my country sent a military contingent to Extreme-North, Cameroon,” the Chadian president explained.  For him, the war against Boko Haram “is a wonderful opportunity for CEEAC countries to reaffirm their solidarity and interrelation facing security threats.”

He acknowledges that it would be difficult to face these terrorists alone. “Chad is resolutely in favour of pan-Africanism. Our intervention in Mali and in other areas demonstrates this,” stated Idriss Déby to his Central African counterparts.  His hope is that, “[their] efforts can lead to immediate, concrete actions being undertaken in the fight against Boko Haram.” He concluded his remarks with ovations from his CEEAC colleagues by adding that, “Boko Haram must know that, as the Chinese strategist Sun Tzu once stated: War is like fire. The longer it burns, the more it endangers those who started it. Boko Haram shall have no place in Central Africa!” The President of Transition in the Central African  Republic, Catherine Samba-Panza, the President of Congo Brazza, Denis Sassou Nguesso, the President of the Republic of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the Secretary of State to Foreign Affairs representing the President of Angola, José Eduardo Dos Santos and Laurent Kavakure, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation representing the Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza were all in attendance.

SUPPORT FROM COPAX

The extraordinary COPAX summit in which CEEAC Heads of State or their representatives participated follows the meeting of the Lake Chad Commission’s military and legal experts and those of partner countries held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from February 5-7, 2015 on decisions taken by African Heads of State at the recent African Union summit. According to Paul Biya, the summit, which ended on February 16, was “devoted to the aggression to which some our nations have been subjected by Boko Haram. Your presence is a testament to our organisation’s collective solidarity. It also demonstrates our commitment to implementing the various decisions that we have taken against Boko Haram. As you know, this sect rejects the values of civilised society. It uses terroristic methods that are blind and ruthless. It has already killed thousands and caused destruction and considerable loss of human lives in Nigeria and its neighbouring country.”

Created in February 1999, COPAX is the armed force within the CEEAC. It aims to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts; undertake actions that promote, maintain and consolidate peace and security in the sub-region; work towards strengthening sub-regional peace and security; reduce and prevent the explosion of armed conflicts; build confidence among member States; promote policies for peaceful resolution; implement relevant anti-aggression measures and mutual defence assistance; develop and intensify sub-regional cooperation for defence  and security or facilitate mediation efforts for crises and conflicts within and among member States of the sub-region or with third party countries. 

(Published in Business in Cameroon n°25)