CEMAC: What are the prospects for economic integration in Central Africa?

The economic integration of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) remains, to this day, an unfinished project. Despite an ambitious institutional framework – a common currency, a Common External Tariff (CET), agreements on the free movement of people and goods – the region is persistently lagging behind other African groups such as UEMOA or SADC. Intra-CEMAC trade represents less than 5% of the region's total trade, a figure well below the 15% recorded in Southern Africa or West Africa. This observation raises questions about the structural blockages that hinder the integration dynamic and the levers to activate to make CEMAC a truly integrated and competitive market.

One of the main obstacles to economic integration in Central Africa is its poor infrastructure. The transport corridors that are supposed to connect national economies are often in poor condition, congested by excessive bureaucracy or hampered by insecurity. The Douala-N'Djamena corridor, vital for trade between Cameroon and Chad, illustrates these challenges: multiple road checks, non-tariff barriers, slow customs procedures. Modernizing this infrastructure, coupled with increased trade facilitation and regulatory harmonization, appears to be an essential priority for stimulating regional trade.

Another major challenge is the preponderant place of the informal sector in the CEMAC economies. More than 90% of workers in the region work in the informal sector, whether in agriculture, trade or urban services. This sector, although essential to the economic resilience of populations, largely escapes formal integration mechanisms and the potential benefits of the common market. Encouraging a gradual transition to formality, by simplifying administrative procedures, facilitating access to credit and establishing appropriate tax incentives, could enable these actors to better integrate into the regional economic dynamics.

The development of the regional private sector, particularly through SMEs and MSMEs, constitutes another strategic lever. The absence of regional industrial champions and the fragmentation of value chains limit the local transformation of resources and keep CEMAC in a position of dependence on gross exports. The creation of transnational industrial hubs along economic corridors, combined with concerted investment policies, could foster the emergence of a competitive regional industry. Similarly, better financial integration, through the revitalization of the capital market and the facilitation of cross-border payments, would offer local companies a more conducive environment for intra-CEMAC expansion.

Digital integration represents an underexploited opportunity. The rise of mobile money and informal e-commerce demonstrates that digital technology can accelerate financial and commercial inclusion, particularly for informal sector entrepreneurs. The digitalization of customs procedures and the creation of regional platforms for connecting businesses could streamline intra-regional trade and reduce transaction costs. However, this transition requires massive investment in digital infrastructure and harmonization of regulatory frameworks.

Regional integration cannot be envisaged without a more proactive approach by Member States. Too often, decisions taken at Community level are slow to be implemented on the ground due to a lack of real political commitment. More effective coordination between States, accompanied by a strengthening of regional institutions, is essential to ensure the effective implementation of reforms. The experience of WAEMU, which has been able to impose macroeconomic surveillance mechanisms and harmonise its trade policies, offers valuable lessons in this regard.

At a time when the AfCFTA is reshaping the African economic landscape, CEMAC can no longer be satisfied with nominal integration. The opportunities are real: a young and dynamic population, abundant natural resources, a strategic position between West Africa and Southern Africa. But they will only materialize if current blockages are overcome and bold policies are adopted to facilitate trade, develop infrastructure and support the private sector. The future of CEMAC will depend on its ability to transform its institutions into effective tools and anchor its integration in the real economy.