Accessibility links

Breaking News

US Gives Equipment to Cameroon for Boko Haram Fight

update

FILE - Cameroon soldiers stand guard at a lookout post as they take part in operations against the Islamic extremists group Boko Haram, their guard post is on Elbeid bridge, left rear, that separates northern Cameroon form Nigeria's Borno state, Feb. 25, 2015.
FILE - Cameroon soldiers stand guard at a lookout post as they take part in operations against the Islamic extremists group Boko Haram, their guard post is on Elbeid bridge, left rear, that separates northern Cameroon form Nigeria's Borno state, Feb. 25, 2015.

The United States has offered tactical war equipment to support Cameroon in its fight against Boko Haram.

The equipment was received late Wednesday, two months after the United States deployed troops to Cameroon to help the central African nation fight the Islamist militant group.

Michael Hoza, United States ambassador to Cameroon, said the tactical war equipment, high technology combat vehicles and high power generators are a gift from the American people to help Cameroon crush the terrorist group Boko Haram.

"They provide water, electricity, maneuverability etc. They follow the delivery of armored vehicles that actually engage in combat with the enemy, but it is just equipment," Hoza said.

U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Michael Hoza
U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Michael Hoza

"The real fight is done by the courage of Cameroonian military forces. We are very proud to partner with them. We will not only deliver equipment but we will continue delivering information, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and we will provide assistance in training as necessary as requested by the government of Cameroon," ambassador adds.

In October, 300 American troops arrived in Cameroon's northern town of Garoua to help combat Boko Haram's insurgency, which spilled across the border from Nigeria in 2013.

Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in Cameroon since then, in addition to more than 10,000 in Nigeria since 2009.

Cameroonian Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo said the assistance shows Cameroon has friends in its battle against the the Islamist radical group.

US support

Assomo said the government and people of the United States should be informed that the people of Cameroon are very delighted to know that they are being supported in the fight against the terror group Boko Haram.

He said the support will help Cameroon soldiers to score more success in the fight against the insurgents and that Cameroon is delighted the assistance is coming less than two months after U.S. troops arrived in Cameroon to help stop terrorism.

Earlier this week, Cameroon announced it had freed 900 people held captive by Boko Haram and expressed gratitude to the U.S. force in Garoua for providing intelligence.

Last year, the United States declared Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization and placed a $7 million bounty on its leader, Abubakar Shekau.

XS
SM
MD
LG