The military and civilian aspects of the preparations are going on nationwide with care taken to ensure security and tranquility.

There is a already hustling and bustling throughout Cameroon as preparations for the 45th edition of the country’s National Day celebrations comes up within a week on May 20, 2017. According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the celebration theme this year is, «Army and the nation in full synergy for a Cameroon, united in its diversity and devoted to the ideals of peace, stability and prosperity. » Two weeks to the celebration, the Head of State, President Paul Biya who is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces instructed the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo to summon a security meeting to ensure that there is peace and security before, during and after the celebration. The meeting which held at the Ministry of Defence on May 5, 2017, was an occasion to evaluate the security situation in the country and take appropriate measures to ensure hitch-free celebrations. The 2017 edition of Cameroon’s National Day will be celebrated within the context of specific security challenges such as the ongoing war against the terrorist group Boko Haram in the Far North Region, refugee problems in the East Region and social tension in the North West and South West Regions with the option of national unity, living together and integration threatened. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou is programmed to launch the civil part of the celebrations this Thursday, May 11, 2017 in Mayo- Oulo in the North Region. A release from the Ministry states that launching activities nationwide would span up to May 13, 2017. In the nation’s capital Yaounde, civilian activities will centre at the National Museum from May 15 to 18, 2017 within the framework of what is called «Unity and National Integration Village.» The four-day activities include promotional fairs, exhibitions, citizenship and solidarity activities, socio- educative exchanges and cultural activities. The military, National Gendarmerie, Police, Customs, Penitentiary Administration, Ex-servicemen as well as political parties are at the heart of the celebrations. The different military corps specifically in Yaounde have been doing march past rehearsals in different parts of the city. From the beginning of next week activites will move to the Yaounde 20 May Avenue, where the military parade and civil march past will take place on celebration day.