Cameroonian Armed Forces The Cameroonian Armed Forces generally has been an apolitical force where civilian control of the military predominates . Traditional dependence on the French defense capability , although reduced , continues to be the case as French military advisers remain closely involved in preparing the Cameroonian forces for deployment to the contested Bakassi Peninsula . The armed forces number 38 , 000 - 40 , 000 personnel in ground , air , and naval forces . The Cameroonian armed forces have bases spread all over Cameroon , including in Ngaoundéré . Air Force bases are located in Garoua , Yaoundé , Douala and Bamenda . " China has an ongoing military - military relationship with Cameroon , which includes training for Cameroonian military students each year in China , technical advisors to assist in repairing Cameroonian military vehicles and naval vessels , and Chinese military sales . " Army . With 20 , 000 men ( including a rate of feminization of nearly 10 % ) the Army remains the most important component in terms of numbers . The Army is under the responsibility of the Chief of Staff , Général de division Nkoa Atenga , whose staff is in Yaoundé . Currently the organization dates from 2001 with a distribution in several types of units : combat units , response units ( unités d ' intervention ) , unités de soutien et d ' appui et finally special reserve units as part of 3 joint military régions ( " interarmees " ) and the 10 military land sectors . Army units have been trained and equipped to fight in the swampy coastal terrain facing the Bakassi peninsula . Although prepared for an armed conflict with Nigeria in recent years , the Cameroon Army does not have operational experience against other forces , therefore , it is not possible to assess its ability to respond to changing threats and opposing tactics . Combat units of the army include : Cameroonian Air Force . The air force has bases in Garoua , Koutaba , Yaoundé , Douala and Bamenda . The Cameroonian Air Force was founded in 1960 the year of independence from France . There are around 600 troops in the air force . Cameroonian Navy . The navy has two patrol boats . There are about 2 , 100 troops in the navy including Naval Infantry . Around May 1999 , Philip Njaru wrote a newspaper article where he alleged ill - treatment of civilians conducted by the 11th Navy Battalion based in Ekondo - Titi . In late May Njaru was approached by the local captain who asked Njaru " to stop writing such articles and to disclose his sources " . Refusing to do this , Njaru five days later found his house encircled by armed soldiers , and escaped to Kumba . Here , he was assaulted by police in June 2001 , with no particular reason stated . Njaru complained to the local authorities , but later learned that " his complaint had not been received " . Cameroon ' s Marine Nationale République modernised and increased its capabilities during 2000 with the acquisition of a number of small Rodman patrol craft and the retirement of some small older craft . A number of small patrol boats have been acquired or ordered from France . Latest estimates indicate naval strength consists of two combat patrol vessels , three coastal patrol vessels and approximately 30 smaller inshore and river patrol craft allocated to both the navy and the local gendarmerie . These include two 135 tonne Yunnan - class landing craft , which are able to carry and launch smaller craft for troop insertions . Some effort has been made to assess equipment needs to bring L ' Audacieux P103 and Bakassi P104 to an effective combat status . This has resulted in weapons capabilities being reduced in favour of an increase in serviceability and the service is now effectively without missile attack capabilities . Bakassi ( a Type P 48S missile patrol craft ) completed a major refit at Lorient , France in August 1999 . This included removing the Exocet missile system and EW equipment , and fitting a funnel aft of the mainmast to replace the waterline exhausts . New radars were also installed . Bakassi is now armed only with 40 mm cannon . Although the Bizerte ( Type PR 48 large patrol craft ) class L ' Audacieux is fitted for SS 12M missiles these are not embarked and its operational status is in some doubt , having not been reported at sea since 1995 . The Quartier - Maître Alfred Moto patrol boat was listed as out of service in 1991 but was reactivated