Gender Promotion Within ECCAS: Ongoing Institutional Reforms Discussed

The Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella on June 18, 2026 granted two separate audiences to the Commissioner in charge of Gender Promotion, Human and Social Development of the Economic Commission of Central African States (ECCAS), Banaken Nelly and the Secretary-General of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie (CONFEJES), Louisette-Renee Thobi. Discussions with the ECCAS Commissioner focused on the state of cooperation between Cameroon and the regional institution, ongoing institutional reforms, as well as the structural challenges facing the regional bloc. Discussions also covered the situation regarding financial contributions from member States for the apt functioning of the institution. It was her first meeting with Minister Mbella Mbella in Cameroon after her appointment on January 24, 2026 at the 9th extraordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the regional economic bloc, and taking oath of office, on March 2, 2026 before the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in his capacity as th...