It is an alarmist report that the general secretariat of the CEEAC which the Nouveau Gabon consulted at the conclusion of the meeting of ambassadors of Member States of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) held in Libreville on 5 August 2015. According to this document “the general secretariat of CEEAC is experiencing a very critical period in its existence, characterised on the one hand by the will of leaders to safeguard some gains and recent achievements made in different focal areas (Peace, security and stability, water, energy and major infrastructure, not forgetting the environment and IT) and on the other hand, the drastic drop in Member States contributions due to non payment by more than half of the Member States of arrears and contributions”.

The consequences of this far from brilliant state of affairs, according to the Community institution include “a total or partial stoppage of projects and programmes, the threat of non- payment of staff salaries or practically the shutdown of the institution, if the situation does not find a solution”. The dwindling of the institution's finances is due, according to the general secretariat, to non payment of contributions and non respect of commitments by Member States to settle arrears that has led the Institution inevitably into a state of recession. “The considerable fall in budgetary projections: 42 billion in 2015 against 49.9 in 2014; being a 3.2% reduction, the very feeble level of Member States contributions (only three states are current: Congo, Gabon and Chad) and the heavy burden of outstanding arrears (FCfa 31 billion at the end of 2015 against 8.5 billion in 2006) are basically the reasons for the actual situation”, we read in the report.

To try and remedy this situation, several initiatives are being undertaken by the general secretariat, such as, a decrease in running costs, stoppage of duty travel outside HQ except in cases considered priority and being funded by CEEAC project partners, no health insurance coverage beyond country of HQ, suspension of recruitment and promotion of staff, a stop to certain seminars and workshops and no further paid leave or salary advances. “It is well advised that the outmoded and maladjusted statutory texts governing the functioning of the institution also need an operational and functional reform of the CEEAC” hammers the document.

Facing this worrying situation, the Secretary-General of CEEAC, Ahmad Allam-Mi (photo), has decided to invite Member States ambassadors to a committee meeting to present them with the findings concerning the institution, so they are all aware at the same level as CEEAC experts of the information and serve as a relay between CEEAC and their countries in order to find a rapid and sustainable solution.

For their part, the ambassadors or their representatives recommended to the general secretariat that they apply rigour in the management of funds allocated to the institution and set up mechanisms to mobilise more reliable resources, in order to spare the CEEAC a new period of close down.