CEMAC Gets New Impetus

Heads of State of the sub-region have resolved to render the Central African  Economic and Monetary Community more  efficient.

President Paul Biya and his peers of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States, CEMAC rounded off a ground-breaking Extraordinary Summit in N’Djamena, capital of Chad on Tuesday. The Head of State and wife, Chantal Biya who arrived in N’Djamena on 30 October, 2017 left Chad yesterday 1st November, 2017 after taking an active part in the one-day discussions that marked another milestone in the activities of CEMAC.
Until now the zone has been too slow in implementing most of its key decisions, especially as far as integration and the movement of persons and goods were concerned. Yet, President Paul Biya has not missed any occasion to remind his counterparts of the sub-region that they had much to gain by working collectively. Speaking at the close of a similar summit in Yaounde on 23 December, 2016, he said; “I firmly believe in the common destiny that binds us within our sub-region. This is why I think that, individually and collectively, we must, in cooperation with our partners, make every effort to give our sub-region the best chance of achieving renewed growth.”
Events leading up to Tuesday’s summit meeting in N’Djamena proved President Biya right. Although with some restrictions, all six countries of the zone have agreed to abide by the 2013 decision that they took concerning the free movement of people in the sub-region. Thus, all holders of either a valid ordinary, service of diplomatic passport can move and stay in another CEMAC country of their choice within a period of three months without having to ask for a visa.
Along side the measure is the dismantling of customs and other barriers to commercial transactions among the six CEMAC countries such that those interested in carrying out business activities could do so without harassment. Projects such as the CEMAC Airline, the Free Trade Zone, and other infrastructure long earmarked to improve the sense of common belonging within the sub-region must now be accelerated in order to boost the much-cherished sub-regional integration. Of course, funding for the various projects has not been easy. In spite of steps taken since 25 June, 2013 to introduce a CEMAC Additional Act abolishing visas for CEMAC nationals circulating within the community it was only last 13 October, 2017 that Equatorial Guinea, joined the other countries in complying. That delay has however not dampened the hope for members to resolutely believe in achieving the rest of their objectives.
The Extraordinary Summit in N’Djamena had as theme; “Accelerated Integration for An Emergent CEMAC.” Suggesting that most, if not all plans previewed within the...

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