The seventh edition of CEMAC day will be commemorated this March 16, 2014.

The six member States of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa that are Cameroon, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad are this March 16 celebrating the seventh edition of the CEMAC Day. It is being observed on the theme, “Promoting Peace, Security, and Integration in Central Africa”, with focus on evaluating the progress of the community. 

Cameroon and CAR have been hit by insecurity with impacts stretching to Chad; all members of CEMAC. The challenge has further worsened the much heralded regional integration which is finding its way with difficulty in the region. Since peace is an important ingredient to any meaningful development, CEMAC member countries have resolved to observe their day with focus on bridging the insecurity and development gap by forming a common front against the latter.

Launching three days of activities in Yaounde on Friday 13 March 2015, the Secretary General in the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Gilbert Didier Edoa, was clear when he said, “there was no integration without peace.”  Attacks in the Far North Region by the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as the resurgence of maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea gives reason for CEMAC to worry. Reason why it has opted to sensitise, educate and inform its public on the necessity to remain united in the fight against common enemies.

Peace, security and integration, according to CEMAC’s Economic Commissioner, Paul Tasong was not chosen because of the hard times countries of the sub-region were going through but for the sake of raising awareness on its development process. Any meaningful and sustainable development comes when peace is guaranteed and it is only when this is threatened, that the countries are reminded of its importance. Paul Tasong announced the message of solidarity from the CEMAC headquarters in Bangui, CAR, following the hardships forced on them by “the unfortunate situation in the Lake Chad Basin.” He praised the European Union and the World Bank for their interest for the partial funding of the “Train My Generation” youth project worth 200 million dollars, (about FCFA 125 billion).

As in the past, radio and TV debates, presentations, exhibitions and sports games enliven this year’s event with security and the construction of CEMAC’s monetary space, the body’s regional economic programme, its common market, the free circulation of persons and common customs in CEMAC’s space examined. Observed on 16 March each year, the CEMAC Day was established by the Conference of Heads of State on June 25, 2008 in Yaounde.