14th Ordinary Session of the CEMAC Heads of State Conference

The Conference of Heads of State of Economical and Monetary Community of Central Africa held its 14th ordinary session this March 2, 2019 at N ' Djaména has ( Republic of Chad ), under the high Presidency of his Excellence ldriss DEBY ITNO , president of the Republic of Chad, Chief of state , President-in-Office of the said conference

Were present:

• His Excellency Faustin Archange TOUADERA,   President of the Central African Republic ;
• His Excellency Mr. Denis SASSOU NGUESSO,
• President of the Republic of Congo ;
• His Excellency Mr. Joseph DION NGUTE,
• Prime Minister, representing the President of the Republic of Cameroon ;
• His Excellency Jul i in NKOGHE BEK.ALE,
• Prime Ministr e, representing the President of the Gabonese Republic;
• His Excellency Francisco Pascual OBAMA ASUE, Prime Minister, representing the President of the Republic of Gu i was born Equator i l e.

The President of the CEMAC Commission, Prof. Daniel ONA Ondo, reported the items on the agenda.

In addition to the members of the Council of Ministers of UEAC and the Ministerial Committee of UMAC, also participated in the works:

• The Vice-President of the CEMAC Commission ;
• The Governor of the Bank of Central African States;
• The President of the Community Parliament;
• The President of the Community Court of Justice ;
• The First President of the Court of Auditors community ry;
• The President of the State Development Bank of Central Africa ;
• Chairman of the Financial Market Supervisory Commission of Central Africa ;
• The Secretary General of the Banking Commission of the Central Afri that;
• The Commissioners of the CEMAC Commission and the first Heads of the Institutions, Organs, Specialized Agencies and Agencies Execution of CEMAC.

The Conference was preceded by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Union of Central Africa (UEAC), held on March 22, 2019, and the Ministerial Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Monetary Union of Africa Centale, held on March 23, 2019.

The Solemn Opening Ceremony of the Conference was marked by the speech of the President of the CEMAC Commission and by the speech of His Excellency ldriss DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad, President in Office of the Community.

On this occasion, the Heads of State and Delegations, through the President-in-Office, welcomed the return of President ALI BONGO ONDIMBA to Gabon after a long period of convalescence that kept him away from his country.

In the same vein, the Conference paid a particularly deserved tribute to His Excellency Faustin Archange TOUADERA, President of the Central African Republic, for the signing on 6 February of the Khartoum Accords, which augur the end of a long period of suffering inflicted on the brotherly people of Central Africa.

At the end of this opening ceremony and after the family photo, the Conference continued its work behind closed doors.

At the beginning of the consideration of the items on their agenda, the Heads of State took note of the Report on the Implementation of the Roadmap of the President-in-Office of the Conference.

At the end of the presentation of his Report, His Excellency IDRISS DEBY ITNO, was warmly congratulated by His Peers, for the excellent quality of this report as well as for the results obtained. In this respect, for the remaining actions, they instructed the President of the Commission to diligently finalize those in progress.

In their turn, the President Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President dedicated to the Program of the Economic and Financial Reforms of the CEMAC (PREF CEMAC) and the Prime Minister Joseph DION NGUTE, on behalf of the President BIYA, President to dedicate to the process of rationalization of BIYA Communities, President dedicated to the process of rationalization of the Regional Economic Communities, have made to the Conference the respective reports on the progress of these Programs

On the progress of the implementation of the PREF-CEMAC, the Conference, taking into account the signs of exit from a long recession that lasted more than four years, addressed its congratulations to the President dedicated to the PREF-C EMAC, His Excellency Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo for the progress made.

On this basis, the Conference encourages all States and all Economic, Monetary and Financial Institutions of CEMAC involved in the implementation of the Program to continue their efforts to strengthen the sustainability of public finances, and the coverage of our currency by the accelerated implementation of measures taken to repatriate export earnings

In addition, the Conference urged solidarity among States and accelerated the conclusion of negotiations for the Congo and Equatorial Guinea programs. They reaffirmed their commitment to support these two countries in finalizing discussions with the IMF.

Taking cognizance of the state of progress of the process of rationalization of the Economic Communities, the Conference congratulated His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon, President dedicated to the Rationalization of RECs for the significant advances recorded in this process of rationalization CERs in Central Africa under his Dedicated High Presidency.

In order to speed up this process and capitalize on the results achieved, the Dedicated President has informed the Conference of the organization of an Extraordinary Joint ECCAS / CEMAC Summit in the near future.

Continuing its work, the Conference of Heads of State followed successively the communications of the Governor of the Central Bank.

With regard to the issue of repatriation of export earnings, especially of large companies, the Conference gave the CEMAC Commission the task of defending the common and mutually supportive position of the six Member States in order to bring them into compliance strictly the exchange regulations in force. In this regard, the Heads of State and Delegations gave specific guidelines for the conduct of the said mission.

Examining issues related to Multilateral Surveillance, the Conference took note of the macroeconomic performance of member states and the state of compliance in 2018 with the new convergence criteria of CEMAC, which are still contrasting from one State to another. In order to remedy this and, above all, to have a reliable early warning system for crises, the Conference instructed the President of the Commission to speed up the establishment in Member States of tools for the revitalization of Multilateral surveillance, namely the Triennial Convergence Programs (by 31 July 2019), the credible and comprehensive payment arrears clearance strategies (by 31 December 2019), as well as the operationalization of the National Multilateral Surveillance Cells, including the establishment of a more efficient system for statistical information.

Referring to the liquidation of the Compagnie Communautaire "Air-CEMAC, and the allocation of the bonus of this liquidation, the Conference on the one hand, adopted two additional Acts which repeal one the creation of the said company and the other fixing headquarters and, on the other hand, decided to transfer the contributions of the Member States to the Community Development Fund (FODEC).

With regard to the finalization of CEMAC Institutional Reforms, the Conference decided on the election of Deputies to the CEMAC Community Parliament by indirect universal suffrage and the empowerment of the Community Schools. It therefore invited the Commission to submit to it at its next session the modalities for organizing this election.

On the state of the implementation of the free movement of people in CEMAC zone, the Conference of Heads of State adopted the Common Policy of Emigration, Immigration and Border Protection of CEMAC. In this regard, it instructed the President of the CEMAC Commission, on the one hand, to accelerate the application of the Additional Act abolishing visas for all CEMAC nationals traveling in the Community space, and, on the other hand, to take vigorous action for the implementation of the said Commune.

In turn, the President of BDEAC presented the situation of his Institution and the Reforms carried out within it. From this report, it appears that it has significantly increased its volume of interventions to finance the economies of the sub-region. However, while welcoming this embellishment, the Conference recommended to the President of BDEAC the continuation of the reforms in order to restore its credibility and further increase its financing capacities. In this regard, the Conference instructed the Governor to accelerate the process of disbursement of funds to the benefit of BDEAC to enable the financing of enterprises.

Reacting to the presentation of the report of the President of COSUMAF, the Heads of State gave detailed guidance to resolve the particular difficulties facing this institution. In this context, the Conference instructed the BEAC to implement the provisions of the Additional Act unifying the financial market of Central Africa.

Addressing the question of the financing of the Community, the Conference of. Heads of State called on the Ministers of Finance to strictly apply the autonomous financing mechanism of the Community and to complete, by 31 December 2019 at the latest, all the arrears due on 31 December 2018 by the States, while recommending improved governance at the level of all Community institutions.

In addition, she particularly urged the President of the CEMAC Commission to deepen reflection on alternative sources of Community funding.

Taking cognizance of the difficulties of operation of the Inter-State Center for Higher Education in Public Health of Central Africa (CIESPA C), the Conference decided on the administrative and financial empowerment of CIESPAC in relation to its current supervisory role. Coordination Organization for the Control of Endemics in Central Africa (OCEAC). CIESPAC will thus be established as a Specialized Institution, like other Community Schools.

Under the individual measures, the Conference of Heads of State
endorsed the appointment of Mr. BEMBA BERAL as Permanent Secretary General of the CEMAC Rose Card System.

Discussing the question of the return of the Commission to its headquarters in Bangui, the Conference recommended to the President of the Commission to propose a timetable for a gradual return to be agreed with the Central African authorities.

Speaking before the closure of the work, the Representative of the Head of State of Gabon thanked the Heads of State and delegations for the support and solidarity they expressed for His Excellency ALI BONGO ONDIMBA, President of the Gabonese Republic to whom they wish best wishes for a speedy recovery.

At the end of their work, the Heads of State and Delegations expressed their thanks to the President of the Republic of Chad, to the Government and to the people of Chad for the warm welcome and the marks of delicate attentions of which all their respective delegations made the object during their stay in N'Djamena.

The work of the fourteenth ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State took place in an atmosphere of serenity and frank fraternity, demonstrating their firm will to advance integration in Central Africa.

The fifteenth ordinary session of the CEMAC Heads of State Conference will be held in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, under the Chair in Office of His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon.