CEMAC summit: President Paul Biya\’s learship role weighs into discussions

President Paul Biya and wife Chantal landed at the Ndjamena International airport at about 5:00pm Monday, 30th October 2017 and was welcomed at the foot of the plane by Chadian President, current chairman of CEMAC, Idriss Deby Itno and his wife Inta Deby Itno.

After the welcome civilities President Paul Biya and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby Itno took to the rostrum and the military chanted the CEMAC anthem.

The Cameroonian leader reviewed the troops before proceeding to salute the dignitaries who turned out to welcome him.

Amongst the dignitaries were Cameroonian officials from the border towns within the Logone and Chari Division in Cameroon.

These officials crossed the river Logone, the boundary with Chad to welcome the President.

After the airport ceremonial, the first couple was accompanied to the Hilton Hotel in Ndjamena where they take temporal residence.

As dean of the leaders of the sub region, Cameroon has been playing a key in reinforcing sub regional integration.

The country was first country to scrap visa requirements for citizens of the CEMAC sub region. Gabon, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea recently removed similar visa requiremen

The current sitting will therefore discuss matters relating to;
# free movement of peoples, goods and services
#financing of the CEMAC commission and the payment of the integration tax.
#Appointment of official to institutions and bodies of the CEMAC commission.
The meeting comes shortly after the United State of America label Chad as country that supports terrorism. It is hoped that the leaders will come up with a joint statement to highlight the key role Chad plays in fighting terrorism especially Boko Haram.
The summit also holds at a time when the sub region is experiencing a 4.1% growth rate despite economic challenges following a drop in oil prices.

Elvis Teke