The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), in French Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC), is a 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

Light: CEMAC and ECCAS members
Dark: ECCAS-only members

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 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 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 blocs (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. 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... States of CEMAC The Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (or UDEAC from its name in French, Union Douaniere et Économique de l’Afrique Centrale), established by the Brazzaville Treaty in 1966, forms a customs union with free trade area between members and a common external tariff for imports... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the year. ... The area now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by Bantus from present-day Nigeria. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes on or near the United States-Canadian border. ... War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of lethal violence between combatants or upon civilians. ... Green: members of AEC pillar blocs Red: states signatories to the AEC Treaty, but not participating in any of the pillars The member states of the African Union are mounting efforts to collaborate economically, but they are impeded by the civil wars raging in several parts of Africa. ... Formal - relating to form. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Second Extra Ordinary Summit of ECCAS

Presided over by President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi, the summit was held in Libreville on 6 February 1998. The Heads of State and 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 Francs for 1998 and requested the Secretariat to: Pierre Buyoya Major Pierre Buyoya (b. ... Chancery Building, Libreville Libreville, estimated population 420,000[1], is the capital city of Gabon. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The President of the United States visits the President of the Philippines. ... Budget generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues. ... French Franc. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

• Obtain assistance from 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 chairman also appealed to member countries to support the complete lifting of the embargo placed on his country. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA) was established in 1958 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... List of Rulers and Heads of State of Burundi (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Kingdom of Burundi Republic of Burundi Affiliations:- See also:- Burundi Heads of Government of Burundi Colonial Heads of Burundi Colonial Heads of Burundi (Urundi) Colonial Heads of Burundi (Ruanda-Urundi) Lists of... This article is about the economic term. ...

During the inauguration of President 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. An inauguration is a ceremony of formal investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power. ... Bongo can refer to: bongo drums a kind of antelope the Bongo GUI development tool Bongo the Clown Omar Bongo This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

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 Early Warning Mechanism of Central Africa (MARAC). . Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island (formerly Fernando Poo). ... 2002 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for June, 2002. ...

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 Mutual Security Pact in Central Africa (COPAX) had received the required number of ratifications to enter into force. Image of Kinshasa and Brazzaville, taken by NASA. Brazzaville (population 600,000) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo and is located on the Congo River. ... 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → January 31, 2004 The United States defence budget is set to exceed US$400 billion next year—an almost 7% increase—according to budget proposals inadvertently posted on the Pentagons website. ...

The Summit also adopted a declaration on the implementation of NEPAD in Central Africa as well as a declaration on gender equality. New Partnership for Africas Development is an economic development program of the African Union. ...

Recent Activities

ECCAS has overlapping membership with CEMAC, the Central African monetary union. On 24 January 2003, the European Union (EU) 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 trough its security pact COPAX. The EU had multiple peacekeeping missions in the DR Congo: Operation Artemis (June to September 2003), EUPOL Kinshasa (from October 2003) and EUSEC DR Congo (from May 2005). Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Collective Security is a system for aspiring for peace in which participants agree that any breach of the peace is to be declared to be of concern to all the participating states, and will result in a collective response. ... Norwegian Blue Helmet during the Siege of Sarajevo, 1992 - 1993, photo by Mikhail Evstafiev. ... An Operation Artemis soldier Operation Artemis was a short-term EU-led military mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for October, 2003. ... 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21: Subodh Mukherjee May 21: Stephen Elliott May 20...

Member states

States of ECCAS

• Angola (1999) - till 1999 only observer
• Burundi (1985)
• Cameroon (1985)
• Central African Republic (1985)
• Chad (1985)
• Republic of the Congo (1985)
• DR Congo (1985)
• Equatorial Guinea (1985)
• Gabon (1985)
• Rwanda (1985, self-suspended 2001-2002)
• Sao Tomé and Principe (1985)

General information

The headquarters of the ECCAS are situated in Libreville, Gabon. Chancery Building, Libreville Libreville, estimated population 420,000[1], is the capital city of Gabon. ...

The working languages of the Community are French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

ECCAS is one of the pillars of the African Economic Community (AEC). Green: members of AEC pillar blocs Red: states signatories to the AEC Treaty, but not participating in any of the pillars The member states of the African Union are mounting efforts to collaborate economically, but they are impeded by the civil wars raging in several parts of Africa. ...

Sturcture

• 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: The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ...

• to develop capacities to maintain peace, security and stability - as essential prerequisites for economic and social development
• to develop physical, economic and monetary integration
• to develop a culture of human integration
• to establish an autonomous financing mechanism for ECCAS

Economic integration is term used to describe how different aspects between economies are integrated. ... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them, for example, the East Caribbean Dollar. ...

Treaties and protocols

• Treaty Establishing the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
• Protocol Establishing the Network of Parliamentarians of ECCAS (REPAC)
• Mutual Assistance Pact Between Member States of ECCAS
• Protocol Relating to the Establishment of a 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 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 Industrial development between member states of the ECCAS
• Protocol on Cooperation in Transport and 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 Advanced Countries

Non-tariff barriers to trade are restrictions to imports but are not in the usual form of a tariff. ... The word transit, when used alone, has several possible meanings in English a modern rock band in Dallas, TX - [[]http://www. ... Customs duty is a tariff or tax on the import or export of goods. ... Freedom of movement is a human rights concept which is respected in the constitutions of numerous Western states. ... A clearing house (or clearinghouse) is an organization affiliated with a securities or derivatives exchange that completes the transactions on that exchange by seeing to validation, delivery, and settlement. ... The term communications is used in a number of disciplines: Communications, also known as communication studies is the academic discipline which studies communication, generally seen as a mixture between media studies and linguistics. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... See also: Innovation By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a level of technological mastery sufficient to leave the surface of the planet for the first time and explore space. ... Human resources has at least two meanings depending on context. ... Training is the teaching of vocational or practical and relates to specific useful skills. ... Look up Culture in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikinews has news related to this article: Culture and entertainment Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Cultural Development in Antiquity Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Culture and Civilization in Modern Times Classificatory system for cultures and civilizations, by Dr. Sam Vaknin... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Beaches make popular tourist resorts. ... In international law, harmonisation refers to the process by which different states adopt the same laws. ... A fruit stand at a market. ... A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... The category of least developed countries (LDCs) is a social/economic classification status applied to around 50 countries around the world by political scientists and economists through the United Nations. ...

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, 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. View of Yaoundé Yaoundé, «yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (2004), is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the West African country after Douala. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... View of Yaoundé Yaoundé, «yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (2004), is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the West African country after Douala. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

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 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. The term Chief of Staff can refer to: The White House Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. ... . Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island (formerly Fernando Poo). ...

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). 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Events: January 1- Millennium celebrations take place throughout the world. ... Norwegian Blue Helmet during the Siege of Sarajevo, 1992 - 1993, photo by Mikhail Evstafiev. ...

Extraordinary Summits of both ECCAS and CEMAC took place in Libreville on 23 June 2000. Foreign ministers 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. Chancery Building, Libreville Libreville, estimated population 420,000[1], is the capital city of Gabon. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the governmental foreign policy of a sovereign nation. ... 2001 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Deaths: August 25 - Aaliyah Films: August 10 - Osmosis Jones played by Chris Rock, starring Bill Murray August 24 - Bubble Boy Categories: 2001 by month ... Main articles: League of Nations & History of the United Nations The term United Nations was coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, to refer to the Allies. ...

A Meeting of Defence Chiefs of Staff was held in Brazzaville in October 2003. The meeting decided to create a brigade-size peacekeeping force for intervention in zones of instability in Central Africa, in line with the African Union’s plans to establish an African Standby Force with five brigades, one for each region (North, West, Central, East and Southern Africa). It 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 exercises every two years, the first of which is to take place in Chad. The term Chief of Staff can refer to: The White House Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. ... Image of Kinshasa and Brazzaville, taken by NASA. Brazzaville (population 600,000) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo and is located on the Congo River. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for October, 2003. ... Brigade is a term from military science which refers to a group of several battalions (typically two to four), and directly attached supporting units (normally including at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). ... Anthem: Let us all unite and celebrate together Official languages The African languages, as well as Arabic, Swahili, English, French and Portuguese Some member states have other official languages. ... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... West Africa is the region of western Africa that is generally considered to include the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. ... Central Africa is a region generally considered to include: Burundi Central African Republic Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), and Zambia are sometimes considered a part of Central Africa. ... East Africa is a region generally considered to include: Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Somalia Tanzania Uganda Burundi, Rwanda, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Sudan are sometimes considered a part of East Africa. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | Southern Africa ...

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)
• Central American Common Market (CACM)

A trade bloc is a large free trade zone or near-free trade zone formed by one or more tax, tariff and trade agreements. ... Collective Security is a system for aspiring for peace in which participants agree that any breach of the peace is to be declared to be of concern to all the participating states, and will result in a collective response. ... States of CEMAC The Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (or UDEAC from its name in French, Union Douaniere et Économique de l’Afrique Centrale), established by the Brazzaville Treaty in 1966, forms a customs union with free trade area between members and a common external tariff for imports... Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa ... The Southern African Development Community is an organization that aims to promote Southern African regional cooperation in economic development. ... The three states that make up the East African Community The East African Community (EAC) is a trading bloc in East Africa, consisting of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. ... The Central American Common Market (abbreviated CACM - in Spanish: Mercado Común Centroamericano, abbreviated MCCA) is an economic trade organization between five nations of Central America. ...

External Links

• Economic Community of Central African States official website