CEMAC Summit Opens in Bangui Amid Biya’s Absence

Summit Under Economic Strain

The Bangui meeting, billed as a platform for dialogue and economic integration, comes at a time when CEMAC faces mounting public debt and a fragile recovery from global economic shocks. Leaders are expected to discuss financial stability and regional growth, while projecting an image of unity.

Rotating Presidency Change

The highlight of the summit is the symbolic handover of CEMAC’s rotating presidency. Faustin Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic will pass the torch to Congo’s Denis Sassou Nguesso, underscoring the bloc’s tradition of shared leadership.

Delayed Merger with CEEAC

Also on the agenda is the long-postponed merger between CEMAC and the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), a move that could lay the foundation for a unified monetary and economic space in Central Africa. Originally slated for July, the project remains in limbo, though leaders insist progress will be made.

Biya’s Absence Raises Questions

Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, was conspicuously absent. Known for rarely traveling abroad in recent years, his failure to attend a gathering of such strategic importance has fueled renewed debate about Cameroon’s future role in sub-regional governance. Opposition voices are likely to seize on the absence as further proof of an “ailing presidency” in Yaoundé.

Despite Biya’s no-show, the Bangui summit is expected to produce key resolutions on economic governance, debt management, and the roadmap toward integration. Yet the absence of CEMAC’s elder statesman leaves an unmistakable gap, reminding observers of the uncertainties clouding Cameroon’s leadership in regional affairs.