ECCAS - Economic Community of Central African States

History and Background 

At a summit meeting in December 1981, the leaders of the Customs Union and Economic Community of Central Africa (UDEAC) took the agreement in principle to have the Economic Community of Central African States - ECCAS. 

ECCAS was established on October 18, 1983 by members of UDEAC and members of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) (Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire - appointed at the time) and Sao Tome and Principe.  Angola was kept in an observer role until 1999, when the country became a member. 

Member countries of ECCAS are Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

ECCAS secretariat offices (headquarters) are based in Libreville, Gabon

ECCAS has worked since 1985 but  remained inactive for much of the nineties. ECCAS was appointed pillar of the African Economic Community (AEC), but official contacts between AEC and ECCAS took place only in October 1999, largely due to this lack of activity of ECCAS since 1992.

The AEC reiterated the importance of ECCAS and the major role played in Central Africa at the third preparatory meeting of the Economic and Social Council in June 1999 (ECOSOC). 

 The second extraordinary meeting of ECCAS was held in Libreville on February 6, 1998. Heads of state attending the summit have pledged to revive the organization.  The Prime Minister of Angola has also indicated that the country would become a full member. 
The Council then approved a budget of 10 million french francs for 1998 and instructed the Secretariat of the following activities:

The Council also requested the countries of the region to find permanent solutions to the problems of peace policies.  The president also asked Member States to give their support to a lifting of the embargo placed on his country. 

A mini summit of leaders of ECCAS was held during the inauguration of President Bongo of Gabon on January 21, 1999.  The heads of state discussed issues relating to the functioning of ECCAS and the creation of a third post of Deputy Secretary General, proposed to Angola.  Angola joined the community in a formal manner during the summit. 

During the 10th Regular Conference of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo in June 2002.  The summit adopted the Protocol Relating to the establishment of a network of Parliamentarians of Central Africa (REPAC), and also adopted regulations of the Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX), the Commission for Defense and Security (CDS), The Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC) and the early warning system for Central Africa (MARAC).  Rwanda was officially welcome, after having renewed its membership.

The regular Eleventh Conference of Heads of State and Government, which was held in Brazzaville in January 2004, welcomed the fact that the Protocol Relating to the establishment of COPAX had received sufficient ratifications to bring itself into force. The summit also adopted a declaration on the execution of the objectives of NEPAD and gender equality in Central Africa.