By Francis Tim Mbom & Ernest Sumelong
Some 75 Cameroonian navy officers have been trained under the Africa Partnership Station, APS, a maritime partnership between Africa, Europe and America.
General Ward (middle) addressing the press
The trainees went through a series of training that began on February 20 on board the USS Fort McHenry. According to the Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy, Jason Morris, the Cameroon navy officers were trained on leadership, diesel engine maintenance, advanced port security, applying medication to save lives during combat etc.
The APS is an initiative of the US with its European partners and some ten African countries to promote maritime safety and security on the Gulf of Guinea (West and Central Africa) through training.
Contrary to opinions that America's new found interest in securing Africa's water is fuelled by Africa's oil potentials, a mission statement of APS states that "maritime security is required to ensure the freedoms of the seas; facilitate freedom of navigation and commerce; advance prosperity and freedom; and protect the resources of the ocean."
In this light, the Commander of the newly created US Africa Command Division, AFRICOM, General William E. Ward, recently visited Limbe, where the US naval vessel, USS Fort McHenry, had docked at Cape Limboh off the National Shipyard site. The ship was in its second visit to Cameroon in two months.
Briefing the press on board the USS Fort McHenry, General Ward stated that the AFRICOM has as mission to bring nations together to work in the common interest of their security and build a more stable environment.
"Our African nations as well as our European partners; as we come together and work to help build capacities and share lessons, each of us will be better at what we do in building a more stable and a more secure environment for all of us to live in. I think this African Partnership Station is a great example of how we can do that," he said.
General Ward added that the programme was not only about increasing military security, but also it has a humanitarian touch, aimed at improving the lives of the communities of the African nations.
The Deputy Joint Chief of Staff of the Cameroon army, Major General Pierre Samobo, alongside two Generals and some top Cameroon military officers, accompanied Ward to the ship.
"We are very happy with what we have seen here and would wish that this is not the end. We hope they will be back to perfect skills of our officers," Samobo said.
Ambassador's Visit Annulled
Meanwhile, a programmed visit by the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Janet Garvey, to preside over the graduation ceremony of the trained Cameroonian navy on February 28, and visit the Limbe Botanic Garden was cancelled due to nationwide protests.
However, the Commander of the ship, Martin Pompeo, presided over the graduation ceremony.Meanwhile, the USS Fort McHenry left Cameroon on March 1 to Gabon and later to Sao Tome and Principe.
Besides training, The Post learned, there are more projects to be carried out between the Cameroonian military and their US counterparts under the APS in 2008. For instance, there is an earmarked Limbe Naval base pier construction site to cost some 500, 000 dollars, that is, some FCFA 250, 000 million.
The Information Service Officer at the US Embassy in Yaounde, Judith Ravin, accompanied journalists to the USS Fort McHenry.
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