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ECCAS

At a summit meeting in December 1981, the leaders of the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) agreed in principle to form a wider economic community of Central African states. CEEAC/ECCAS was established on 18 October 1983 by the UDEAC members and the members of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes States (CEPGL) (Burundi, Rwanda and the then Zaire) as well as Sao Tome and Principe. Angola remained an observer until 1999, when it became a full member.

ECCAS began functioning in 1985, but has been inactive since 1992 because of financial difficulties (non-payment of membership fees) and the conflict in the Great Lakes area. The war in the DRC has been particularly divisive, as Rwanda and Angola fought on opposing sides.

CEEAC has been designated a pillar of the AEC, but formal contact between the AEC and CEEAC was only established in October 1999 due to the inactivity of CEEAC since 1992 (CEEAC signed the Protocol on Relations between the AEC and the RECs in October 1999). The AEC again confirmed the importance of CEEAC as the major economic community in Central Africa at the third preparatory meeting of its Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) in June 1999. Presided over by President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi, the 2nd Extra-Ordinary Summit of CEEAC was held in Libreville on 6 February 1998. The Heads of State/Government present at the summit committed themselves to the resurrection of the organisation. The Prime Minister of Angola also indicated that his country would become a fully-fledged member (Angola has had observer status since the organisation was formed in 1984).

To visit the site: http://www.ceeac-eccas.org