Cameroon is raising the stakes in the global fight against cybercrime. In a bold move, Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) has sealed a powerful alliance with the International War College of Yaoundé (IWC) to take on hackers, ransomware operators, and data thieves threatening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The partnership was made official on Monday, July 21, during a high-level meeting at CAMTEL headquarters in Yaoundé. The session brought together Brigadier General Nka Valère, head of the IWC delegation, and Francis Ottou, CAMTEL’s Technical Adviser No. 1, representing General Manager Judith Yah Sunday Epouse Achidi. They were joined by cybersecurity specialists and military trainees from Cameroon, Europe, the United States, and China, marking a rare moment of joint action between the civilian and defense sectors.
Speaking at the exchange, Francis Ottou sounded the alarm on the growing wave of digital threats. “Cybercrime never sleeps. It doesn’t need a visa or a rifle. It strikes from anywhere, exploiting legal loopholes to destabilize economies and nations,” he warned. Ottou explained that CAMTEL has been reinforcing its defenses to keep pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
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From deploying advanced security systems and building backup networks to enforcing global compliance standards and ensuring every link in the chain is accountable, CAMTEL is determined to create a resilient digital shield for the nation.
“You defend the borders; we defend the data. Together, we keep Cameroon secure,” Ottou told the War College delegation, underlining the shared responsibility between the telecom giant and the military.
Brigadier General Nka Valère praised CAMTEL’s commitment, emphasizing that the fight for national security now extends far beyond physical battlefields. Celebrating the War College’s 20th anniversary, he revealed that IWC has already trained nearly 900 senior officers from Africa, Europe, China, and the United States, equipping them to tackle the security challenges of tomorrow.
“The future of defense isn’t just about soldiers. It’s about building a united culture where military personnel, civilians, and tech experts work hand in hand to protect Africa’s resilience in an age where threats can come from a keyboard rather than a battlefield,” Gen. Valère said.
The event also featured a special CAMTEL presentation titled “Protecting Personal Data in the Face of Cybercrime,” followed by a lively Q&A session with IWC trainees, underscoring the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge.
This collaboration marks the beginning of a nationwide strategy to harden Cameroon’s digital defenses. CAMTEL and the War College plan to deepen cooperation by sharing intelligence, developing rapid-response strategies, and integrating military and civilian expertise to protect Cameroon’s sovereignty in cyberspace.
With cybercriminals becoming bolder and more sophisticated, Cameroon is sending a clear message: the nation is ready to fight back, and the digital battlefield will not be left undefended.
By
Yuh Joshua Kosimbom
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