ECCAS : in Malabo, Central Africa redraws its shared future
On June 7, 2025, the capital of Equatorial Guinea hosted the 26th Session of Heads of State of ECCAS and the 2nd Maritime Conference. Two decisive summits to lay the foundations for stronger integration, stable regional governance, and better maritime security. Yet these ambitions are still confronted with the reality of geopolitical tensions and persistent challenges that weaken regional cohesion...
Gathered in Malabo, the leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) expressed a shared ambition: to accelerate the political and economic integration of a region still seeking stability. Founded in 1983, ECCAS comprises 11 member states—including Cameroon, Gabon, the DRC, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea—representing around 180 million inhabitants. While the region shares a rich cultural mosaic and significant natural resources, it remains marked by persistent conflicts, low industrialization, and dependence on raw material exports.
In 2025, the African Development Bank estimates that the average growth of Central African countries will accelerate, rising from 4.1% in 2024 to 4.7% in 2025, driven in particular by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad.
However, this growth remains insufficient to meet demographic pressures, employment needs, and security challenges. In the background: the crisis in Sudan, tensions in eastern DRC, political instability in Chad and the Central African Republic, and now, Rwanda’s withdrawal, announced on June 8, 2025, which raises numerous economic and geopolitical questions.
Regional integration in question
These were among the key topics discussed at the Malabo summit, held under the theme: “Consolidating the achievements of ECCAS reform to accelerate regional integration and the building of a community of destiny in Central Africa.” This directly refers to the institutional reform initiated in 2019, aimed at making the community more effective, with a Commission granted expanded powers and a reformed General Secretariat based in Libreville.
In his speech, Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo emphasized: “Central Africa needs strong, coordinated, and sovereign governance to face regional threats and better harness its resources.”
The summit’s final declaration highlights the need to harmonize macroeconomic policies, strengthen the free movement of people and goods, and improve conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms.
Maritime challenges at the forefront
Simultaneously, the 2nd Central African Maritime Conference (COMAR) highlighted the strategic importance of the blue economy. Over 5,000 km of coastline borders ECCAS countries, and maritime waters represent major potential for trade, sustainable fishing, transport, but also security threats.
The COMAR theme, “Working for the governance and security of the maritime space and shared continental waters,” reflects a will to act. The President of the ECCAS Commission, Angolan Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, stated: “We must pool our resources to protect our maritime space against piracy, illicit trafficking, and environmental harm.”
At the end of the conference, member states committed to adopting a regional maritime charter, creating a regional maritime coordination center, and implementing a satellite surveillance program for maritime activities.
Rwanda’s withdrawal: A fracture to manage
The summit was also marked by Rwanda’s withdrawal from ECCAS, announced on June 8. Kigali justified its decision by ongoing disagreements regarding ECCAS’s role in managing the conflict with the DRC.
This announcement raises questions about regional cohesion, Rwanda’s place in regional value chains, and the viability of cross-border initiatives, notably in logistics, cybersecurity, and energy.
A community of destiny still in the making
Despite this setback, the summit’s conclusions reveal a reinforced political will. Heads of state agreed to establish an annual mechanism for evaluating regional integration, create a common fund for peace and security, and launch an annual ECCAS Economic Forum, starting in 2026.
Building a true community of destiny also requires greater involvement from citizens, women, youth, and the private sector. As Cameroon’s President Paul Biya reminded: “We need an ECCAS that serves the people, not just the states.”
A strategic turning point for Central Africa
The twin summits in Malabo highlighted ECCAS’s progress and vulnerabilities. While the ambitions are clear—more integration, more security, more maritime cooperation—political tensions, national divergences, and funding shortfalls remain major obstacles. The success of the resolutions adopted will depend on their effective implementation and the ability of states to rise above immediate interests to build a shared future.
