CI-NEWS

Government promises more collaboration with COMIFAC.

2020-03-16

No: 477

Government promises more collaboration with COMIFAC.

Government, through the Ministry of External Relations, has pledged greater cooperation with the Central African Forest Commission, COMIFAC.

The pledge was made by External Relations Minister, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, during a ceremony in Yaounde, as both parties signed a revised version of the agreement of the Commission’s headquarters in Yaounde.

The External Relations boss penned the agreement on behalf of the government of Cameroon, while the Executive Secretary of COMIFAC, Raymond Ndomba Ngoye, did so far the commission.

During the brief event that took place in the ceremonial room of the External Relations Ministry, Mbella Mbella said the signing of the updated version of the headquarters agreement warrants Cameroon to continue making available all forms of support to COMIFAC to enable it effectively carry out its functions of the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the sub region.

This, the Minister said, is in line with President Paul Biya’s vision of ensuring the proper conservation and management of forest resources.

The COMIFAC Executive Secretary, for his part, heaped praises on Cameroon and its leader, President Paul Biya, for all the support accorded the commission since it was headquartered in Cameroon following a 2003 agreement. He singled out Cameroon as being the only member country which is up-to-date with its financial contributions to the commission.

The key feature in the revised headquarters agreement has to do with the change of status of the institution. It was changed from the Conference of Forestry Ministers of Central Africa, to the Commission of Central African Forests in 2005. The amended agreement also allows Cameroon the right to continue hosting the headquarters of the organisation which has been in existence since 1999. Raymond Ndomba Ngoye also used the opportunity to highlight some of the key works of COMIFAC, which cover various domains within its area of competence. Amongst them, he cited the harmonization of forestry and environmental policies of member countries of COMIFAC, the management and conservation of ecosystems biodiversity, capacity building of stakeholders and the enhancement of forest resources.

COMIFAC was created on March 17, 1999 following a summit of heads of state of Central Africa held in Yaounde. The body works to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems within the central Africa sub region.

This was an initiative of the Cameroonian leader. COMIFAC has 11 member states, which include; Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principal and Chad.

Culled from Cameroon Insider

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Government promises more collaboration with COMIFAC.