Decentralisation, Local Development : Gabon Learns Cameroon’s Model

Cameroon has shared its decentralisation policy experience with Gabon. This was during a working session the Minister of Decentralisation and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam had with the visiting Gabonese Minister of Decentralisation, Cohesion and Development of Territories, Michèl Menga M’Essone on May 11, 2023. The Minister who is on a five-day visiting mission to Cameroon, was accompanied by the Gabonese Ambassador to Cameroon, Paul Patrick Biffot who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. Basically, the Gabonese delegation is in Cameroon to get inspired from Cameroon’s public policy on decentralisation, the organisation and functioning of the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM) and the procedures of financing regional and local authorities.
Presenting the decentralisation policy of Cameroon to the visiting delegation, Minister Georges Elanga Obam said the Head of State who attaches so much importance to the concept, encourages a bottom-top approach to development. “It is for that reason that Cameroon embarked on the process of the putting in place of Regional Councils so that the aspirations of the people are taken into consideration in the decision-making process,” the Minister explained. He added that the Cameroonian model is not perfect and faces a lot of challenges, but the objective remains accelerating development through the breakout of powers and responsibilities from the State to regional and local authorities.&...