The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) is entering a decisive diplomatic phase ahead of the appointment of the five commissioners who will form its executive body. In a note sent to foreign affairs ministries of member states, the Commission announced that the Council of Ministers will meet in Malabo on January 16 and 17 ahead of the 9th extraordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State dedicated to this issue.
The meeting carries particular importance for Cameroon. Yaoundé must clearly state its choice between two portfolios: the Common Market, Economic, Monetary and Financial Affairs, or the Promotion of Gender, Human and Social Development.
For the Common Market portfolio, Cameroon has nominated Jacob Kotcho Bongkwaha, a PhD economist and current director of the Common Market at ECCAS. Already embedded within the institution, he is familiar with its internal challenges and prospects. His technocratic profile is reinforced by an external assessment conducted by Mazars, which awarded him the highest score among the 52 shortlisted candidates, at 90.25 out of 100, well ahead of his competitors.
Influence battle within diplomatic circles
The Gender portfolio is backed by Nelly Banaken Elel, a seasoned diplomat, minister plenipotentiary, and first counselor at Cameroon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In June 2023, she was elected vice chair of the Third Committee, which handles social, humanitarian, and cultural issues, during the 78th regular session of the UN General Assembly, a role that reflects a different sphere of influence.
Within diplomatic circles, the choice between the two candidates remains divisive. According to Investir au Cameroun, some diplomats at the Ministry of External Relations are actively supporting Nelly Banaken Elel for the Gender, Human and Social Development portfolio. Her supporters argue that all ECCAS commissioner posts carry equal weight and point to her success in outperforming other candidates competing for the same position.
This view is not shared by all senior diplomatic figures. Among the five commissioner roles, the Common Market portfolio is widely seen as the most strategic. Nine of the fifteen objectives set out in the revised ECCAS Treaty directly concern economic, monetary, and financial integration, considered the backbone of the regional framework. “This position oversees trade integration, macroeconomic convergence, financial cooperation mechanisms, and any future monetary union,” said a diplomat involved in the process. The holder of this portfolio plays a central role in regional dynamics and engages directly with international technical and financial partners.
Paul Biya’s arbitration
This interpretation appears to align with views within the Presidency. Sources at the General Secretariat of the Presidency, led by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, indicate that internal assessments have leaned in favor of the Common Market, Economic, Monetary and Financial Affairs portfolio. “The Common Market portfolio fits squarely with Yaoundé’s long-standing ambition to position itself as a regional pivot, built on political stability, industrial ambition, and gradual economic diversification,” one source said.
The issue also ties into Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020–2030, which identifies regional integration as a key growth driver. Securing the Common Market commissionership would give regional visibility to Cameroon’s national priorities while reinforcing its image as a driving force in Central Africa, a posture presented as consistent with Paul Biya’s vision and rhetoric.
For now, the final decision remains closely guarded by the head of state. The Malabo meeting is expected to clarify not only Cameroon’s choice of candidate, but also the political priority it intends to project in the next phase of ECCAS governance.
Baudouin Enama and Amina Malloum