READ: African Military Law Forum Newsletter, Issue 4

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President’s Welcome

Welcome to the fourth edition of AMLF SENDS. It is my honor to introduce a most distinguished colleague, and the first co-chair of AMLF, Col. Marguerite Meffand-Loaw Epse Adelo Abanda, deputy director of military justice, Cameroon Armed Forces.

Interview with Col. Marguerite Meffand-Loaw Epse Adelo Abanda

1. Hello Col. Marguerite Meffand-Loaw Epse Adelo Abanda. Could you describe your current position within the Cameroon Defense Forces? How many years have you been in the military?

Hello Sandra Franzblau. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this interview and answer your questions. Regarding the number of years spent in the Army, it should be noted that I was enlisted in the Cameroonian Defense Forces on May 29, 2998, a total of 24 years. Currently, within the Cameroonian Defense Forces, I am the deputy director of military justice and government commissioner for the Courts of Appeal of the Center, South, East and littoral regions.

Indeed, with respect to the 1st part of my duties, I assist my boss, the directory of military justice, in the missions that are his, such as: questions relating to the organization and functioning of military courts; close monitoring of cases, with particular emphasis on so-called reported cases pending before military courts; the control of the regulatory of procedural acts by the various public prosecutor's offices; capacity building for magistrates and registrars; the preparation of bills; monitoring the professional training of military magistrates and military judicial personnel as well as their management in liaison with the Directorate of Human Resources, the Gendarmerie and the general staff; compiling clemency and conditional release files; liaison with the various ministerial department interested in the operation of military justice.

With regard to the 2nd part, I am responsible for supporting public action concerning all cases judged at the 1st degree by the military courts and having been the subject of appeal. This is basically a summary of the description of the position I occupy, without forgetting the aspect relating to representation when my boss is unable to attend.

Read the entire interview in the African Military Law Forum Newsletter, Issue 4.