Nigeria and Cameroon Strengthen Defence Cooperation to Secure Their Shared Southern Border

Linus Aleke in Abuja

Nigeria and Cameroon have deepened their defence partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen security along their shared southern border, a move aimed at enhancing regional stability and countering evolving threats on land and at sea.

The MoU was signed on Tuesday in Yaoundé by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retired), and Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Mr. Joseph Beti Assomo.

The ceremony concluded two days of intensive discussions among defence and security experts from both countries.

Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Media, said the agreement modernises the framework for addressing new security challenges while reinforcing the long‑standing defence relationship between the two nations.

The MoU establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in securing the terrestrial and maritime domains along the Nigeria–Cameroon southern border and further strengthens existing mechanisms for bilateral defence collaboration.

During the talks, the parties identified priority areas for cooperation, including enhanced operational coordination, intelligence sharing, logistics support, joint military training, personnel exchange programmes, and improved collective responses to emerging security threats.

Speaking at the event, General Musa noted that the MoU would provide a structured framework for military cooperation and operations between the two countries, further institutionalising collaboration on shared security concerns.

The discussion also highlighted the need to operationalise the recently established Combined Maritime Joint Task Force as a strategic platform for strengthening maritime security and protecting economic and security interests in the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigeria and Cameroon are key stakeholders.

On defence industrial cooperation, the minister reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration in defence technology and innovation.

He observed that a persistent challenge to defence capability development across Africa has been the limited indigenous production of military hardware, stressing the importance of fostering stronger regional industrial partnerships.

Musa highlighted opportunities under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to cooperation in defence manufacturing, technology transfer, research, innovation and capacity development.

Responding, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo, expressed the country’s interest in advancing bilateral cooperation in defence innovation and technology.

He added that a formal proposal framework is currently being finalised to translate these intentions into concrete bilateral arrangements in defence technology.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria–Cameroon relations and reflects the shared commitment of both nations to promoting sustainable peace, safeguarding regional sovereignty, and strengthening collective defence through strategic cooperation.