The Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Kouagri Natama chaired the graduation ceremony of the second wave of the first promotion of auxiliary gendarmerie students, on Friday March 15, 2024, at the Center d Instruction of the National Gendarmerie (CIGN), located in the Gbakonon district of Gaoua. Nearly 1,500 rank-and-file gendarmes are committed to making the liberation of the territory their main focus.The Burkinabè army registers new fighters in its ranks. Nearly 1,500 auxiliaries of the national gendarmerie trained at the National Gendarmerie Training Center located in the Gbakonon district of Gaoua have just completed their promotional outing on Friday March 15, 2024.These gendarmes are part of the second wave of the first promotion of auxiliary gendarme students.After 5 months of initial military training (Editor's note: October 12, 2023, date on which recruits were the center), 1,498 auxiliary gendarmes including 8 women with 100 specialists in various fields such as masonry, carpe ntry, building electricity, welding, maintenance of motor vehicles... were presented to the flag of Burkina Faso.These ranks of the national gendarmerie also received their epaulettes. Through these various acts, they are now able to strengthen the strength of the National Armed Forces and serve the Nation.This second wave, like the first wave, was named 'Yari Adama Oussé' by the Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Kouagri Natama.The late Yari Adama Oussé, former gendarme and former chief of Gaoua canton who died on August 12, 2021.For Colonel Kouagri Natama, the recruitment of auxiliary gendarmes responds to a desire of the country's primary authorities in order to meet the need for coverage of the national territory.This network also meets the need for the fight against terrorism.According to him, this promotion which has just been released will be constituted and organized into marching units alongside the other defense and security forces, which are already hard at work for the missions of reconquest and consolidation of the territory.For his part, Squadron Leader Emile Soudré, commander of the CIGN, indicated that the training focused essentially on general military training focused on training in the military environment, combat training, professional training based on the specific law enforcement modules, an internship in operational territorial defense aimed at preparing them for internal security operations, general training aimed at consolidating academic achievements through conferences on various themes.According to him, the project to recruit auxiliary gendarmes was launched in 2022 in order to strengthen the capacities of the operations of the national gendarmerie.'This exit ceremony reflects the command's vision which is to strengthen the tactical response with a density of capable combatants capable of supporting conventional units in the drive to reconquer the national territory,' he added. This is why Squadron Leader Emile Soudré invited them to show discipline, loyalty and a spirit of sacrifice in all circumstances in order to carry the torch of the institution high.The godfather of the promotion, Colonel Boukari Zoungrana, also a former minister in charge of security, provided advice to his godchildren.He, in fact, made it clear that joining the national gendarmerie is a priesthood. 'The profession of gendarme is that of men of honor. Nothing is achieved without hard work,' he told his godchildren.This is why he invited them to work tirelessly, to fulfill their duties without expecting anything in return and above all to cultivate the values of patriotism, loyalty, integrity and honor which underpin the national gendarmerie. .During the ceremony, the auxiliary gendarmes sang the promotion song then the gendarmerie anthem.They thus made the commitment to make the liberation of the territory their battle horse. 'We are regular soldiers ready to serve our country,' said the major of this second wave, Dieudonné Zongo. To do this, he invited the population to support them in their missions to secure the country.The ceremony ended with the demonstration of the military know-how of the new soldiers and the parade of the troops.Source: Burkina Information AgencyBy Eratus NduehThe Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) are reportedly working in collaboration with other authorities, as well as other public and private bodies, to ensure that Cameroon demarcates itself as a reliable agricultural and fishery commercial hub for potential investors CNA has learned.This as they mobilize for the organization of their 4th edition of the Cameroon investment forum in Douala from April 17 to 19, 2024 under the theme: 'the attraction of productive investments in agricultural and fishery value chains with a view to intensifying the import-substitution dynamic in Cameroon,' with emphasis laid on the rice, corn, fish, milk and palm oil sectors.What added value is this forum going to provide Cameroon?In an exchange with an economist, Henri Kouam, the founder of the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPi), he told CNA that, the CIPA forum is going to brings values to Cameroon because it is an opportunity for the diaspora and potential investors to see the different inve stments opportunities in the agriculture sector. 'Cameroon is currently under producing rice, and therefore we have to rely on import from Indonesia, India and other countries.'He added that, 'we have problems in improving the palm oil sector. it's not untill a french company took over SOCAPALM, that we saw production increase dramatically and this has cause many to think that privatization is the answer to publicly owned companies.'The forum is also a leeway for local businesses and entrepreneurs to speak, meet and engage with potential investors in and out of the country, who will help them raise funds to expand their activities, reach new markets and create partnerships.However, the CEO of CEPI says, in as much as the country strives to promote import substitution policy, it should not be in conflict with free trade because they are mutually reinforcing. 'Cameroon can substitute import for things like fleur, by making cassava fleur. So while we are emphasizing import substitution in things like rice, palm oil, fish and corn, we should also ensure that we can buy from the most effective producers across the world. Because the point is to make sure that consumers pay the lowest price for these goods,' ex-railed Henri Kouam.Some difficulties facing Cameroon in the sector.According to reports, Cameroon has been going through lot of challenges to meet up to standards in the sector. As outlined below;The lack of financing especially for women has been the main impediment to the growth and development of the sector.We have not been able to measure the effectiveness of agricultural policies that have been put in place by the government, partners or private sector.There is a lack and the absent of synergy between the civil society, the private sector and government to coordinating their actions to improve productivity.The business environment is currently difficult for agricultural companies.Taxation is too high 30 to 33 percent in taxes is too high for someone who just started farming.As a solutio n, expert propose that the government should reinstate the 3 years tax break that was given to companies when they registered. This is going to encourage more businesses to register and as a result will have the greatest share of farmers financially stable and accessing banks and financial institutions.Source: Cameroon News Agency