ANN/THE PHNOM PENH POST – Senior Cambodian and Nigerian military officials announced a joint initiative to strengthen military cooperation between the two nations’ armies, navies, air forces and peacekeeping forces under the United Nations framework.
Brigadier General Ea Ejodame, adviser to the Nigerian Army responsible for coordination with Cambodia and who is stationed in Kuala Lumpur, said the strengths of the armies of Cambodia and Nigeria are complimentary as the two countries have a similar training system with army institutes, national defence universities and peacekeeping centres, which makes it easier for both sides to plan opportunities to share experiences and knowledge.
Ejodame met with Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander-in-Chief General Vong Pisen on July 25 during his first visit to Cambodia for discussions about cooperation in the military, security and defence sectors of the two countries.
An RCAF press release quoted Ejodame as saying that Cambodia and Nigeria shared similar histories in some ways because they had both suffered through wars and are now striving for peace and sharing their experiences in armed conflicts with other nations’ militaries in the hope of preventing future wars.
“I agreed with (Ejodame’s) remarks about looking for opportunities to strengthen communication and cooperation between the armies, navies, air force and peacekeeping forces of our two countries,” General Pisen said.
The general said he believed that Ejodame’s visit will enable the two countries’ armies to expand relations and cooperation in the near future through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
President of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace Yang Kim Eng, said given that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and is rapidly developing like Cambodia, it is important to exchange experiences and share insights into problems both nations have faced and there is good potential for practical involvement or cooperation.
