Economic Community of Central African States
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{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
|name = Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)<br>Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale
|linking_name = the Economic Community of Central African States
|image_map = ECCAS.png
|map_caption = Map of Africa indicating ECCAS member states
|org_type = Economic community
|membership = 11 [[Central Africa]]n states
|admin_center_type = Headquarters
|admin_center = [[Libreville]], [[Gabon]]
|languages_type = [[Working language]]s
|languages = [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|leader_title1 = Secretary-General
|leader_name1 =
|established = December 1981
|official_website =
}}
The '''Economic Community of Central African States''' ('''ECCAS'''; [[French language|French]]: ''Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale''; [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Comunidad Económica de Estados de África Central'', CEEAC) is an organisation for promotion of regional economic co-operation in [[Central Africa]]. It "aims to achieve collective autonomy, raise the standard of living of its populations and maintain economic stability through harmonious cooperation".
== History and background ==
At a summit meeting in December 1981, the leaders of the [[Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa]] (UDEAC) agreed in principle to form a wider economic community of Central African states. ECCAS was established on [[18 October]] [[1983]] by the UDEAC members, [[Sao Tomé and Principe]] and the members of the [[Economic Community of the Great Lakes States]] (CEPGL established in 1976 by the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]], [[Burundi]] and [[Rwanda]]). [[Angola]] remained an observer until 1999, when it became a full member.
ECCAS began functioning in 1985, but was inactive for several years because of financial difficulties (non-payment of membership fees by the member states) and [[History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|the conflict]] in the [[Great Lakes]] area. The [[war]] in the DR Congo was particularly divisive, as Rwanda and Angola fought on opposing sides.
ECCAS has been designated a pillar of the [[African Economic Community]] (AEC), but [[formal]] contact between the AEC and ECCAS was only established in October 1999 due to the inactivity of ECCAS since 1992 (ECCAS signed the Protocol on Relations between the AEC and the [[regional bloc]]s (RECs) in October 1999). The AEC again confirmed the importance of ECCAS as the major economic community in Central Africa at the third preparatory meeting of its '''Economic and Social Council''' (ECOSOC) in June 1999.
=== Second ECCAS Extraordinary Summit===
{{Politics of the African Union mini}}
Presided over by President [[Pierre Buyoya]] of [[Burundi]], the summit was held in [[Libreville]] on [[6 February]] [[1998]]. The [[Head of State|Heads of State]] and [[Head of Government|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. The summit approved a [[budget]] of 10 million [[French Franc]]s for 1998 and requested the Secretariat to:
* Obtain assistance from [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|UNECA]] to evaluate the operational activities of the secretariat; to evaluate the contributions due by member states; and the salaries and salary structures of employees of the secretariat
* Convene an extra-ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers as soon as possible to evaluate the recommendations of UNECA; the Council should then draw up proposals for a new administrative structure for the secretariat and revised contributions due by each member state.
The summit also requested countries in the region to find lasting and peaceful solutions to their political problems. The [[President of Burundi|chairman]] also appealed to member countries to support the complete lifting of the [[embargo]] placed on his country.
During the [[inauguration]] of President [[Omar Bongo|Bongo]] of [[Gabon]] on [[21 January]] [[1999]], a mini-summit of ECCAS leaders was held. The leaders discussed problems concerning the functioning of ECCAS and the creation of a third Deputy Secretary-General post, designated for [[Angola]]. Angola formally joined the Community during this summit.
=== 10th Session of Heads of State and Government ===
The 10th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government took place in [[Malabo]] in June 2002. This Summit decided to adopt a protocol on the establishment of a [[Network of Parliamentarians of Central Africa]] (REPAC) and to adopt the standing orders of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX), including the [[Defence and Security Commission]] (CDC), [[Multinational Force of Central Africa]] (FOMAC) and the [[Central African Early-Warning System|Early Warning Mechanism of Central Africa]] (MARAC).
[[Rwanda]] was also officially welcomed upon its return as a full member of ECCAS.
=== 11th Session of Heads of State and Government ===
The 11th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government in [[Brazzaville]] during January 2004 welcomed the fact that the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of a Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX) had received the required number of ratifications to enter into force.
The Summit also adopted a declaration on the implementation of [[New Partnership for Africa's Development|NEPAD]] in Central Africa as well as a declaration on gender equality.
== Recent activities ==
Some of the ECCAS states have formed the [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]] (CEMAC). On [[24 January]] [[2003]], the [[European Union]] concluded a financial agreement with ECCAS and CEMAC, conditional on ECCAS and CEMAC merging into one organization, with ECCAS taking responsibility for the peace and security of the sub-region through its [[collective security|security pact]] [[Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa|COPAX]].
The EU had multiple [[peacekeeping]] missions in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]]: [[Operation Artemis]] (June to September 2003), [[EUPOL Kinshasa]] (from October 2003) and [[EUSEC DR Congo]] (from May 2005).
== Member states ==
{{columns |width=200px
|col1 =
'''{{resize|115%|Since 1985}}'''
* {{BDI}}
* {{CMR}}
* {{CAF}}
* {{CHA}}
* {{COD}}
|col2width=260px
|col2 =
<br/>
* {{CGO}}
* {{EQG}}
* {{GAB}}
* {{RWA}}{{smallsup|a}}
* {{STP}}
|col3 =
'''{{resize|115%|Since 1999}}'''
* {{AGO}}{{smallsup|b}}
}}
<div style="padding-left:0.5em; font-size:90%;">
<sup>a</sup> Self-suspended 2001-2002.<br/>
<sup>b</sup> Observer before 1999.
</div>
== General information ==
* The headquarters of the ECCAS are situated in [[Libreville]], Gabon.
* The working languages of the Community are [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]].
* ECCAS is one of the pillars of the [[African Economic Community]] (AEC).
<br/>{{African Economic Community}}
== Structure ==
* Conference of Heads of State and Government
* Council of Ministers
* Secretariat General (one secretary-general elected for four years and three assistant secretaries-general)
* Court of Justice
* Consultative Commission
== Objectives ==
The ultimate goal is to establish a '''Central African [[Common Market]]'''.
At the Malabo Heads of State and Government Conference in 1999, four priority fields for the organization were identified:
* to develop capacities to maintain peace, security and stability - as essential prerequisites for economic and social development
* to develop physical, [[economic integration|economic]] and [[monetary union|monetary]] integration
* to develop a culture of human integration
* to establish an autonomous financing mechanism for ECCAS
== Treaties and protocols ==
[[Image:UDEAC and CEMAC in ECCAS.png|thumb|210px|{{legend|#008000|ECCAS-only members}} {{legend|#00ff80|ECCAS, CEMAC and COPAX members}}]]
* Treaty Establishing the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
* Protocol Establishing the [[Network of Parliamentarians of Central Africa|Network of Parliamentarians]] of ECCAS (REPAC)
* Mutual Assistance Pact Between Member States of ECCAS
* Protocol Relating to the Establishment of a [[Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa|Mutual Security Pact in Central Africa]] (COPAX)
=== Appendices to the ECCAS Treaty ===
* Protocol on the [[Rules of Origin]] for products to be traded between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on [[Non-tariff barriers to trade|Non-Tariff Trade Barriers]]
* Protocol on the [[Re-export]] of goods within the ECCAS
* Protocol on [[Transit]] and Transit facilities
* Protocol on [[Customs]] cooperation within the ECCAS
* Protocol on the Fund for Compensation for [[Loss of Revenue]]
* Protocol on [[Freedom of movement]] and Rights of Establishment of nationals of member states within the ECCAS
* Protocol on the [[Clearing House]] for the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Agricultural]] development between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Industry|Industrial]] development between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Transport]] and [[telecommunication|Communications]] between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Science]] and [[Technology]] between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on [[Energy]] cooperation between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Natural resources]] between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in the development of [[Human resources]], [[Education]], [[Training]] and [[Culture]] between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on Cooperation in [[Tourism]] between member states of the ECCAS
* Protocol on the Simplification and [[Harmonization]] of [[Trade]] documents and Procedures within the ECCAS
* Protocol on the Situation of [[Landlocked]], Semi-Landlocked, [[Island]], Part-Island and/or [[Least developed countries|Least Advanced Countries]]
== Peace and security activities ==
Central African states adopted a pact of non-aggression at the end of the fifth meeting of the [[UN Consultative Committee on Security in Central Africa]] held in [[Yaoundé]], Cameroon. The pact, adopted on [[9 September]] [[1994]], was arrived at after five days of meeting and discussions between military experts and ministers of [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Republic of Congo]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]] and [[Sao Tome and Principe]]. At a summit conference of the [[United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa]] which took place in [[Yaoundé]] on 25-26 February 1999, member states decided to create an organisation for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, which would be called the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX). The COPAX Protocol has now entered into force.
=== Technical organs of the COPAX council ===
* The [[Central African Early-Warning System]] (MARAC), which collects and analyses data for the early detection and prevention of crises.
* The [[Defence and Security Commission]] (CDS), which is the meeting of [[Chief of staff (military)|chiefs of staff]] of national armies and commanders-in-chief of police and gendarmerie forces from the different member states. Its role is to plan, organize and provide advice to the decision-making bodies of the community in order to initiate military operations if needed.
* The [[Multinational Force of Central Africa]] (FOMAC), which is a non-permanent force consisting of military contingents from member states, whose purpose is to accomplish missions of peace, security and humanitarian relief.
The standing orders for COPAX, including those of CDS, MARAC and FOMAC were adopted in June 2002 at the 10th Ordinary Summit in [[Malabo]].
In January 2000, [[Gabon]] hosted a regional [[peacekeeping]] exercise “Gabon 2000” with the objective of increasing the capacity of ECCAS states in the field of peacekeeping and conflict prevention and management. This exercise represented a direct application of the French RECAMP-concept (reinforcement of African peacekeeping capacities).
Extraordinary Summits of both ECCAS and CEMAC took place in [[Libreville]] on [[23 June]] [[2000]]. [[Foreign minister]]s from 10 Central African states met in the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] on 16 and 17 August 2001 to discuss security in their war-torn region. The meeting was sponsored by the [[United Nations]], and only [[Rwanda]] declined to attend.
A meeting of Defence [[Chief of staff (military)|Chiefs of Staff]] was held in [[Brazzaville]] in October 2003, at which it was decided that a [[brigade]]-size peacekeeping force would be created in order to intervene in unstable Central African areas. This could then form one of the [[African Union]]'s five planned brigades of the [[African Standby Force]], one brigade for each region ([[North Africa|North]], [[West Africa|West]], [[Central Africa|Central]], [[East Africa|East]] and [[Southern Africa]]). The meeting recommended that military planners from each of the ECCAS states form a group to work out the details for the force. They also suggested the establishment of a joint peacekeeping training centre and [[military exercise]]s every two years. The first of these is to take place in [[Chad]].
== See also ==
* [[Trade bloc]]
* [[Collective security]]
* [[Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa]] (UDEAC) and [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]] (CEMAC)
* [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC)
* [[East African Community]] (EAC)
* [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA)
* [[Central American Common Market]] (CACM)
== External links ==
* [http://www.ceeac-eccas.org/ Economic Community of Central African States] (official website)
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Economic Community of Central African States| ]]<!--Keep at start of list (eponymous category)-->
[[Category:International organizations of Africa]]
[[Category:Regional Economic Communities of the African Union]]
[[Category:Trade blocs]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1981]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[es:Comunidad Económica de los Estados de África Central]]
[[fr:Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique centrale]]