Led by Commission President H.E. Baltasar Engonga Edjo’o, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community – CEMAC delegation actively participated in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank, held from October 12 to 18 in Bangkok.
Throughout the summit, the regional delegation held strategic bilateral discussions with high-ranking officials from both institutions, including Executive Directors for Africa, the Director of the IMF African Department, and senior leadership from Fiscal Affairs and Statistics.
The meetings focused on strengthening macroeconomic stability, accelerating regional structural transformations, and evaluating the roadmap for unlocking crucial regional financial assurances.
During sessions with the IMF African Department, also attended by BEAC and COBAC, the CEMAC delegation outlined progress on measures mandated by the Conference of Heads of State in January 2026 to consolidate foreign exchange reserves and drive economic diversification.
In response, the IMF announced an upcoming regional mission to review assurances, alongside ongoing country-level assessments to evaluate whether 2027 draft budget laws align with debt sustainability goals.
If confirmed, the review of regional assurances could be submitted to the IMF Executive Board in December 2026. Furthermore, discussions with the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department secured commitments for three technical assistance missions in January 2027 to address tax and customs reforms, compliance risk management, and domestic revenue mobilization.
Collaborative efforts with the IMF Statistics Department focused on regional statistical integration, specifically the implementation of the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa – HISWACA project across CEMAC and ISSEA.
IMF representatives expressed readiness to establish a joint roadmap for upcoming statistical methodology transitions, including a transition matrix for the 7th edition of the Balance of Payments Manual. Additionally, the IMF highlighted an initiative aimed at accounting for the informal economy within national accounts, inviting the CEMAC Commission to prioritize its technical participation in upcoming dedicated workshops.
Concurrently, bilateral engagements with the World Bank centered on expanding regional integration projects and evaluating ongoing initiatives. The CEMAC delegation advocated for Equatorial Guinea’s inclusion in the regional HISWACA project, a step expected to be aligned with the World Bank’s country strategy document currently under development.
CEMAC officials equally requested additional funding to monitor the performance of public enterprises; the World Bank noted that formal endorsement from at least two member states would be required to advance this specific initiative.
To conclude their engagements, the World Bank commended the progress achieved under the HISWACA project and requested CEMAC’s strategic priorities for the next two years. Both parties agreed to organize an in-depth “deep-dive” session before the end of 2026 to ensure CEMAC’s regional priorities are fully integrated into the World Bank’s forthcoming Regional Integration Strategy for Africa.
This series of discussions underscores CEMAC’s continued commitment to deepening institutional partnerships, enhancing statistical transparency, and maintaining regional economic resilience.
