The High Commissioner for Veterans and Victims of Armed Conflicts of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Colonel Léopold BIKINDOU KERE, surrounded by his Director of Cabinet, Colonel Abel BOUKITA, and the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Cameroon in Brazzaville, Colonel JING Emmanuel ACHU, was received in audience at the National Office for Veterans, Former Military Personnel and Victims of War of Cameroon (ONACAM) on 29 March 2023 by Colonel ® Alfred FULLER, Director General of this office, was received in audience at the National Office for Veterans, Former Military Personnel and Victims of War of Cameroon (ONACAM) on 29 March 2023 by Colonel ® Alfred FULLER, Director General of this Institution.

This visit is justified by the desire of His Excellency the High Commissioner to experience the Cameroonian experience in the management of veterans. The Republic of Congo, like Cameroon, has an Office in charge of Veterans which is in the process of becoming more powerful. In his desire to move forward, he decided to come to Yaoundé, to learn about the institutional framework of ONACAM, its organization, its mode of operation, its way of managing the social component, the projection of its brand image on the national and international level as well as the functioning of its branches, namely the Amicales. Colonel BIKINDOU dwelt on the social action of ONACAM, particularly in the area of health and socio-professional reintegration.

The widows of ONACAM were present and furnished this visit by presenting to the High Commissioner and his delegation, two exhibition stands of articles, objects and products made by themselves within the framework of income generating activities namely: Cameroonian style dresses called "Kaba", various products such as herbal teas, soaps, bedding composed of bed sheets with various patterns, babouches etc. The host of the Director General was visibly impressed by these various achievements. The President of the ONACAM Widows' Working Group, Mrs. MOUAFO Désirée, revealed that they have received training which was organized for them by the General Management; this allows them to live free from begging and debauchery. The Congolese delegation was impressed by the practical session of fabric dyeing and soap making organized for the occasion by the Widows' Working Group.

At the end of this visit, the High Commissioner was satisfied with the welcome he received during his stay in Cameroon, his exchanges with the Director General of ONACAM and the know-how of the widows. In front of journalists, he declared: "Our visit to ONACAM reflects the excellent relations of friendship and brotherhood that unite our two countries. We wanted to discover ONACAM and the Cameroonian authorities accepted our request. All the questions that concerned us were answered. The visit to the Office was a real success for us. We want to move forward, that's why we entered this dynamic of exchanges and experiences with our brothers in Cameroon. I want to tell you that cooperation is not new, this is not the first Congolese visit to Cameroonian land, the delegation of ONACAM has also been received in Congo.

The cooperation between the institutions in charge of veterans in Cameroon and Congo must therefore continue. Colonel Alfred FULLER, Director General of ONACAM said: "I am convinced that today you ensure the continuity of this secular relationship of friendship and brotherhood that guided the visit of friendship and work, that the Congolese delegation under the leadership of the late Colonel Pierre OBOU, then Director of the National Office of Veterans and Victims of War of the Congo made to ONACAM and my trip to Brazzaville at the head of a delegation of our Office."

In his welcoming speech, Colonel Alfred FULLER said: "ONACAM is a creation of the President of the Republic His Excellency Paul BIYA, Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces who is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of those who have given their youth and paid a high price in the execution of missions of defense and pacification of our dear and beautiful country Cameroon. His work is great and deserves to be saluted. He also praised the efforts made by Presidents Denis SASSOU NGUESSO of Congo and Paul BIYA of Cameroon in the care and maintenance of the veterans of their respective countries.

As a member of the World Federation of Veterans, ONACAM watches over the material and moral interests of its members at all times. To learn more, click on the link below: https://www.onacam.org/nos-missions.

The visit ended with a cocktail reception at the Maison du Combattant in Yaoundé, the signing of the guest book and the presentation of gifts.

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