ECCAS: Governance Team In Place

The governance team that makes up the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has been put in place. A Vice President of the Commission and five Commissioners were designated during the ninth extraordinary Conference of Heads of State and Government held by video conference on January 24, 2026 and current by the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is equally the current Head of ECCAS. Cameroon’s External Relations Minister, Mbella Mbella, represented the President of the Republic, Paul Biya at the high-level meeting. Amongst the leaders put in place, Cameroonian-born Banaken Elel Nelly, was designated Commissioner for the Promotion of Gender, Human and Social Development. Prior to her nomination, she served as First Counsellor at Cameroon’s Permanent Mission in the United Nations. The appointed personalities join Ambassador Dr Ezéchiel Nibigira, President of the Commission to complete the governance team. The position of Vice President was given to Mariam Mahamat Nour of Chadian nationality. The other four Commissioners came from Angola, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, the ninth extraordinary summit was dedicated to the putting in place of these Commissioners, especially given the fact that the Commission had functioned in the last four months without a management team. During his opening speech, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo noted that the session was dedicated to the strategic future of the Commission with the putting in place of its Commissioners. He added that with the session taking place at a time with heightened geopolitics, economic and financial pressures, coupled with the legitimate aspirations of the people for peace, security and sustainable development of the sub region, the Equato-Guinean leader said the Commissioners are expected to bring in new dynamics and ensure the rigorous implementation of l...