In a world where gunfire has become a daily soundtrack and no nation is immune to the long reach of terror, one question hangs over Cameroon: can the country afford to let its guard down? That is the dilemma raised by Atonfack Guemo, director of communication at the Ministry of Defence, in an editorial broadcast on the programme Honneur et fidélité. His message was blunt: Cameroonians must remain vigilant at all times, in every corner of the territory and in every sphere of life.
The globalisation of violence and its shadow over Cameroon
Frozen conflicts are thawing, active wars drag on, and security crises seem endless. Across nearly every continent, the roar of weapons grows louder and more frequent. Sometimes it is regular armies clashing; sometimes it is so-called asymmetric operations or the low-intensity but highly lethal gun violence that claims more than 200,000 lives globally each year. This worldwide spread of armed violence breeds a palpable sense of permanent insecurity—a feeling that can quickly spiral into psychosis, especially in countries targeted by international terrorism whose capacity for harm keeps expanding despite unanimous condemnations and sanctions.
From terrorism to espionage: the many faces of insecurity
Bombings, attacks, blockade attempts and hostage-takings are on the rise. All this is made possible by the ease with which terrorist groups acquire means of action on land, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace. There is little point in asking who enables them and why; the uncomfortable truth is that our enemies are sustained by our friends, ostensibly for our own good. Meanwhile, insecurity has spread into other areas of human activity: industrial espionage, pillaging of wildlife, plant and mineral resources, sabotage and diversion of communication routes, and even the distortion of politics, education, and age-old cultural norms. These are all assaults on people, institutions and the environment. At this rate, no country appears powerful enough to escape being a target.
Cameroon on the front line of a dangerous world
As Cameroonians, we are well placed to know what is at stake. We are forced to fight hard to survive the multiple aggressions that have made our country a convergence point. Cameroon devotes enormous shares of its economic, material and human potential to blocking the fallout from instability on its eastern borders and to smothering transnational projects of obscurantist extremism in its northern regions. And that is not the least of the perils: the country is also working to drain the abscess of seditious ambitions in its western regions.
Prevention, containment, and the limits of progress
In this dangerous global environment, Cameroon is doing its utmost to prevent, contain and, where necessary, reduce the occurrence and virulence of the attacks targeting it. So far, the results of these efforts have been rather satisfactory, although outbreaks of violence are still recorded in some parts of the national territory. In this noble struggle, the support of compatriots for the professional defenders of national security is invaluable.
Vigilance as a permanent duty
Yet the bottom line remains: we must continue to exercise vigilance at every moment, in every point of the national territory and in all domains, to thwart the manoeuvres of an adversary from whom we can expect neither respite nor pity. The editorial closes with a threefold call: stay patriotic, stay vigilant, and love Cameroon definitively.
What the call to vigilance means for citizens and the economy
Beyond the rhetoric, the message carries practical implications. A population that remains alert can help prevent attacks, report suspicious activity, and support security forces. For businesses, a stable security environment is essential for investment and daily operations. The call is not just about defence; it is about preserving the social and economic fabric of the nation. As Cameroon navigates a turbulent global landscape, the question is not whether vigilance is necessary, but whether it can be sustained without fuelling fear or division.
In the end, Atonfack Guemo’s editorial is a reminder that security is a shared responsibility. The stakes are high, and the answer to the dilemma he poses will shape Cameroon’s future.
