ECCAS : Addressing Peace, Security Challenges

Terrorist threats in the Lake Chad Basin, piracy along the Gulf of Guinea, crisis in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the war in Sudan which has led to the influx of refugees into Chad, coupled with natural disasters and the effects of climate change are some of the security challenges the Central African sub region is grappling with. The fallouts have been slow development, violence and forced displacements. Statesmen of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), meeting yesterday in the eight extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government, by video conference, sought to address these concerns and foster genuine integration in the sub region. The session was dedicated to the security and economic development of Central Africa. 
Deliberations were chaired by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, current Head of ECCAS. The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, represented President Paul Biya at the debates and he was assisted by the Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella, and the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etouga, besides his close collaborators.  
Highlighting some of the challenges currently being faced by ECCAS member States, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said peace and security are the main elements for development within Central Africa. To him, the extraordinary session is a platform for instituting basic mechanisms on conflict prevention and the pacific resolution of ongoing crisis. The President encouraged sincere dialogue and the respect of recommendations in the management of crisis, noting that history teaches everyone that no country develops without peace and stability. The Equato-Guinean leader concluded by reaffirming his determination to the respect of its missions at the Presidency of the regional economic bloc. 
The President ...