The 10th Summit of CEMAC leaders in Bangui introduced a new orientation which Brazzaville built-on.
The main focus of sub-regional integration in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC has been the free movement of people and goods that has been its weakest link. However, several efforts continue to be made by member countries to foster closer ties among CEMAC countries especially at a multilateral level.
It is definitely within such a background that the 11th Summit of CEMAC Heads of State held in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo on Wednesday July 25, 2012. Several issues were examined during the closed-door sessions that the six Heads of State namely: Paul Biya of Cameroon, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Denis Sassou N’Guessou of the Republic of Congo, Idriss Deby of Chad, François Bozizé Yangouvonda of the Central African Republic and Ali Bongo Ondimba of the Republic of Gabon, held.
As expected, issues such as the free circulation of people and goods, the handling of managerial posts within the main structures of CEMAC, changes at the executive secretariat of CEMAC, the distribution of positions, Air CEMAC, the Regional Economic Programme, sub-regional stock markets, governance and the problem of trans-border security.
Undoubtedly, most, if not, all the issues have been preoccupying the sub-region and each CEMAC Summit has been an attempt to push the sub-regional agenda forward. Continuous efforts by all CEMAC leaders present at such summits could be seen as an indicator of their determination to overcome egocentric nationalist tendencies and get closer to form a stronger and viable economic zone. What has therefore changed from when the CEMAC leaders met in Bangui from January 16-17, 2010 to the Summit of last July 25, 2012? The following analysis focuses on improvements since Bangui 2010.
