French Foreign Minister Laurent FABIUS at Unity Palace

The Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA granted audience on Saturday 21 February 2015 to the French Foreign Minister Laurent FABIUS who is on a two day visit to Cameroon to underscore the support France is giving to the country and other countries of the region that are victims of the savage attacks of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The discussions on this and other issues of concern to the two countries lasted over one hour. Speaking to the press immediately afterwards, Laurent FABIUS reiterated the fact that his country stood firmly behind Cameroon and the neighbouring countries in the war against Boko Haram. He pointed out that the countries concerned and other African countries have to face the terrorists squarely, while France is ready to lend a supporting hand to ensure that the terrorist group is eradicated.

One of the ways France was definitely going to help, according to the French Foreign Minister, is to ensure that UN Security Council gives the required clearance for the Multi-National Force that is being set up. This is a vital requirement that will give legality and guidelines that will assuage the concerns of donor countries and ensure the support of the entire international community.

The Head of State HE Paul Biya was assisted during this audience by Ministers Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU and Peter AGBOR TABI, respectively Director of the Civil Cabinet and Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic. For his part, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs was accompanied to Unity Palace for the audience by the French Ambassador to Cameroon, Christine ROBICHON; General Francisco SORIANO, Commander of French troops in Gabon; Jean-Christophe BELLARD, Director of Africa and the Indian Ocean; Guillaume LACROIX, Adviser in the Minister’s Cabinet; and Guillaume OLLAGNIER, Adviser in the Minister’s Cabinet.

Laurent FABIUS is on an African tour that started in Chad and will continue to Niger at the end of his stay in Cameroon. It should be recalled that he came to Cameroon on 19 April 2013 when the MOULIN-FOURNIER family that had been kidnapped in the Far North region was released. At a ceremony that day hosted by the President of the Republic, the French Foreign Minister lauded the efforts of Cameroon in the fight against terrorism. The French Foreign Minister came to Cameroon again later that year (31 Dec. 2013) when Father Georges VANDENBEUSCH of French nationality was also freed from captivity by the same militants of the terrorist group.

His present trip to Cameroon is therefore a logical follow-up of the cooperation between France and Cameroon to fight against the scourge of terrorism as dictated by Boko Haram.