By presidential decree read on July 28, 2026, Major General Hector Marie Tchemo, Major General at the Armed Forces General Staff, was admitted to the second section. A decision that raises questions. While the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces is ill and absent from all recent ceremonies at the Ministry of Defense, it is precisely his deputy who is leaving the position. When and why?
A dramatic turn at the General Staff. Major General Hector Marie Tchemo has just been admitted to the second section. The information, published by the national CRTV station at 8 p.m. on July 28, 2026, is laconic. But its political and military significance is far from that.
What is the role of the Major General?
In the Armed Forces organizational chart, the Major General is the number 2 at the Armed Forces General Staff. He coordinates administration, oversees daily operations, and, above all, represents the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces in his absence. He is the man of continuity, the guarantor of the chain of command.
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However, for several months, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces has been ill. He has been notably absent from recent official ceremonies at the Ministry of Defense. In fact, it was General Tchemo who was at the helm, representing the institution.
It is precisely at this moment that he is retired.
The timing of the decision is debated.
On one hand, admission to the second section complies with statutory rules of age and seniority. On the other hand, the timing is surprising. Leaving the Major General when the CEMA himself is unavailable risks creating a vacuum at the top. Who will act as interim? Who will sign? Who will represent the army at upcoming major events?
Some see it as a desire for renewal and taking control. Others worry about a rushed decision that weakens leadership at a time when security challenges remain major: Boko Haram in the North, armed groups in NOSO, and a tense sub-regional context.
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The power has made its choice. The decree is signed. Now remains to quickly appoint a credible successor to avoid the absence of the chief being compounded by the absence of his deputy.
Because in the army as in politics, a vacuum never stays empty for long.
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