# Head of State’s New Year message to the Nation
Yaounde, 31 December 2014
Fellow Cameroonians, My dear compatriots,
It was our hope, following a period of intensive political activity, that as 2014 was not an election year, we would be free to devote ourselves primarily to reviving our economic growth which, as you are aware, is a prerequisite for improving the living conditions of our populations.
Such was not exactly the case owing to the escalation of attacks against our national territory by the Boko Haram sect. Besides this, there were the criminal activities of armed gangs on our border with the Central African Republic.
Initially, the Boko Haram terrorist organization carried out raids to seize isolated hostages or loot public or private property.
Buoyed by their grip on north-eastern Nigeria, the so-called "jihadists" launched major attacks on the Far-North Region of our country, for instance, the attack on the workers' camp of a Chinese company at Waza and the raid on Kolofata, resulting in several deaths and the abduction of many hostages.
This could not be tolerated. We therefore set up a response and prevention mechanism which quickly proved its worth. Since then, Boko Haram has suffered heavy human and material losses in each of its attacks. It is hoped that they would learn their lesson.
At this juncture, I would like to pay glowing tribute to our defence forces whose valour has been demonstrated in recent fighting.
I have had occasion to say that the Nation as a whole ought to mobilize and rally behind its defence forces.
Such seems to be the case by all accounts from our regions. I have most particularly appreciated the stance of our Muslim compatriots. They, like all the other Cameroonians, have clearly understood that this war is by no means based on religion. They have clearly understood that it is a response to external aggression by a terrorist organization that does not subscribe to the values of a fraternal society.
My dear compatriots,
The growing threats on our borders have prompted us to take measures to safeguard against their effects on our internal security. Such is the purport of the law on the suppression of terrorism which Parliament recently passed by a large majority. It is far
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from serving as a pretext for restricting civil liberties, as claimed by some ill-intentioned people. Besides, the instrument is very clear on this point.
Furthermore, faced with an upsurge in terrorist activities, most leading democratic countries have in recent years passed new laws to prevent terrorism. By so doing, they have complied with the recommendations of international organizations, particularly the United Nations and the African Union. Such is what we deemed appropriate to do. Therefore, our objective is to safeguard against any terrorist-related risk as far as possible. Every State not only has the right, but also the duty to protect its citizens. I am convinced that the vast majority of our compatriots do understand.