Soldiers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Officers, General Officers,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the civilian personnel of the Defence Forces,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Security Forces,
The 20th of May is the celebration of the Unity of the Nation. What is a Nation? A Nation is a population united by history whose will to live and build a common destiny together makes it a people; it is also a territory defined by borders; it is equally a flag and a rallying song called the national anthem. Beyond governments, communities and political organisations, there is a professional body that is both the crucible and the cement of the Nation: it is the National Army and more broadly the Defence and Security Forces. It is the Army, admittedly under the intangible authority of the civil power, which protects the people with whom it is at one with; it is the Army which defends the borders of the Nation and therefore the integrity of the territory; it is the Army which sheds its blood for the flag while singing the national anthem, this great song of rallying and devotion. That is why I felt it was important to address a special message to the Cameroonian army, our army, and more generally to the Defence and security forces, on this 49th edition of the National Unity Day, which is taking place in a special context...