The Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA granted audience, on the side-lines of the peace and security in Africa summit holding in Paris, to Jean-Yves Le DRIAN, the French Minister of Defence.

Though no declaration was made to press after the audience, it is coming shortly after France decided to intervene militarily in the Central African Republic following a UN Security Council resolution enabling such action. It is in this context that Cameroon gave permission for French military personnel and logistics to transit through Cameroon.

It should also be remembered that a French national, Father Georges VANDENBEUSH was kidnapped in Northern Cameroon on 14 November 2013 by elements of the Boko Haram extremist group operating from Northern Nigeria.

Minister Jean-Yves Le DRIAN was accompanied to the audience by Air Force General Antoine NOGUIER, Chief of Cabinet of the French Defence Minister; Nicolas ROCHE, Diplomatic Adviser; and Philippe ERRERA, Director of Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The close collaborators of the Head of State who accompanied him at the audience were the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet, Mr. Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU; the Rear Admiral Joseph FOUDA, special Adviser of the President of the Republic; and Lejeune MBELLA MBELLA, Cameroon’s Ambassador to France.