YAOUNDE HOME OPENING OF CIC'S 5th RAHR PREPARATORY WORK

Yaoundé 14 May 2026 (Republic of Cameroon) - The experts of the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) began on 14 May 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, preparatory work for the Fifth Annual Meeting of Senior Officials (RAHR). The opening ceremony was chaired by SEM the Commissioner in charge of Political, Peace and Security Affairs of the ECCAS Commission, General of Army Corps, Commissioner of Police Marcel MAPANGOU MOUSSADJI.

In his introductory address, Commissioner Marcel MAPANGOU MOUSSADJI welcomed the holding of this preparatory session, which brings together experts to discuss issues related to maritime security and governance in the Yaoundé Architecture space. He also expressed his gratitude to the Cameroonian authorities for hosting the various delegations present in Yaoundé.

Evaluation and monitoring work

The Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace and Security recalled that this meeting is a continuation of the recommendations made at the previous Annual Meeting of Senior Officials held in Abuja in April 2024. According to him, the task of the experts is to assess the progress made, identify shortcomings and propose the necessary adjustments to enhance the effectiveness of the regional mechanism.

He stressed the central role of experts in the preparation of strategic decisions to be adopted by the Senior Officials at the end of the Yaoundé session.

Consolidate Yaoundé Architecture

During his speech, General Marcel MAPANGOU MOUSSADJI also highlighted the main objectives of the 2026 session. This includes strengthening the effectiveness of the Yaoundé Architecture and the Code of Conduct adopted in 2013, strengthening interregional cooperation and maritime governance, and exploring innovative funding mechanisms for CIC.

The Commissioner also called for greater synergy with international partners, while respecting the objectives of the African Union and the United Nations.

This meeting was attended by the Gulf of Guinea Commission, the Ministries of External Relations and National Defence of Cameroon, FOMAC, CRESMAC, ECOWAS apologised;

In closing his speech, he invited experts to work rigorously, cooperatively and with a sense of duty, before declaring the preparatory work for the Fifth Ordinary Session of the ICC Annual Meeting of Senior Officials open.