The most important lesson registered after the recent CEMAC extraordinary summit in N’Djamena, Chad, is the recognition of the catalytic role played by Cameroon’s Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, towards sub-regional integration.
H.E. Paul BIYA was presented as the pillar of CEMAC. This was highlighted, firstly, by President Idriss DEBY ITNO in his opening speech. The same acknowledgment was made by the former President of the CEMAC Commission – Congolese-born Pierre MOUSSA, and in the final press release of the summit.
Nowadays, CEMAC effectively stands as a people-based institution especially with the avant-garde role of President Paul BIYA. This was celebrated in N’Djamena with the announcement of the free movement of people and goods within the community. Cameroon adhered to this policy thanks to the adoption of the Additional Act by CEMAC Heads of State on 25 June 2013.
President Paul BIYA has also been at the forefront of affairs in the face of the economic crisis in the sub-region due to the drastic fall in the prices of raw materials. It was under his initiative that the CEMAC extraordinary summit of 23 December 2016 was organised in Yaounde in the presence of the IMF boss. This move was hailed by Mr. Pierre MOUSSA, who described it as a “crucial action for the implementation of measures to overcome the crisis”. It should be noted that the current crisis has a considerable impact, not only on the Member States, but also on the functioning of sub-regional structures, and particularly the CEMAC Commission.
