La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC)
This article examines the process of regional integration in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). CEMAC lags behind other regional organisations on the continent in terms of the free movement of people, goods and services. To remedy this situation, CEMAC has developed a numbe...
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Université de Reims Champagne-Ardennes
2024-05-01
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| Series: | L'Espace Politique |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/11990 |
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| author | Poliny Ndong Beka II |
| author_facet | Poliny Ndong Beka II |
| author_sort | Poliny Ndong Beka II |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the process of regional integration in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). CEMAC lags behind other regional organisations on the continent in terms of the free movement of people, goods and services. To remedy this situation, CEMAC has developed a number of institutional frameworks (treaties, protocols, declarations, etc.) aimed at removing borders between Member States and deepening cross-border cooperation. The objective of this contribution is to verify the practical implementation of these institutional frameworks, which are supposed to foster the development of cross-border cooperation. The hypothesis put forward is that border regions participate in the materialisation of these dynamics. This explains the choice of the northern Gabonese province (Woleu-Ntem) and the southern region of Cameroon. These distinct territorial entities share a common border separating Gabon from Cameroon. This is why this study is part of the border studies framework. The methodology used is based on a combination of documentary research, field observation and semi-structured interviews conducted between July and September 2022. The results identify the border not as a barrier, but rather as an area of resources from which many players (states, local authorities, border residents) benefit. In addition to the field survey, we drew on a number of previous studies to arrive at this result. Research by Oyaya (2001) focuses on the a-spatial dimension of customs union theory and the marginalisation of regional realities. Next, Tsafack Nanfossi and Tamba (2003) examine the driving forces behind economic integration in Central Africa. Nguema Engo (2007) then looks at the initiatives taken by border towns to promote the well-being of resident populations and improve relations between border localities. Loungou (2010) and Zogo Nkada (2011) then examine the free movement of people in the CEMAC area. The first analyses the differences between Member States on this issue, with countries that are reluctant (Gabon and Equatorial Guinea) and those that are in favour (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic and Chad). The second is a comparative study of the state of construction of free movement between CEMAC and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This is subject to numerous obstacles in CEMAC, whereas it is effective in ECOWAS. Finally, the work of Boudzanga (2013) highlights the resistance of the central powers in Gabon and Cameroon to the virtuous decentralisation process. In the first part, the article outlines the foundations of regional integration: its specific features and the factors that contribute to its development. The second part, on the other hand, contributes to the analysis of these different issues, between the elements that contribute to the strengthening of cross-border cooperation and the obstacles and brakes that obstruct its growth. Finally, the last part is devoted to demonstrating that the border is a resource for border regions and the State. For this reason, attraction mechanisms are designed to seize this resource. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9df90037160436fb3e32ef087d318f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1958-5500 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardennes |
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| series | L'Espace Politique |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9df90037160436fb3e32ef087d318f32025-08-20T03:47:37ZengUniversité de Reims Champagne-ArdennesL'Espace Politique1958-55002024-05-014910.4000/11r66La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC)Poliny Ndong Beka IIThis article examines the process of regional integration in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). CEMAC lags behind other regional organisations on the continent in terms of the free movement of people, goods and services. To remedy this situation, CEMAC has developed a number of institutional frameworks (treaties, protocols, declarations, etc.) aimed at removing borders between Member States and deepening cross-border cooperation. The objective of this contribution is to verify the practical implementation of these institutional frameworks, which are supposed to foster the development of cross-border cooperation. The hypothesis put forward is that border regions participate in the materialisation of these dynamics. This explains the choice of the northern Gabonese province (Woleu-Ntem) and the southern region of Cameroon. These distinct territorial entities share a common border separating Gabon from Cameroon. This is why this study is part of the border studies framework. The methodology used is based on a combination of documentary research, field observation and semi-structured interviews conducted between July and September 2022. The results identify the border not as a barrier, but rather as an area of resources from which many players (states, local authorities, border residents) benefit. In addition to the field survey, we drew on a number of previous studies to arrive at this result. Research by Oyaya (2001) focuses on the a-spatial dimension of customs union theory and the marginalisation of regional realities. Next, Tsafack Nanfossi and Tamba (2003) examine the driving forces behind economic integration in Central Africa. Nguema Engo (2007) then looks at the initiatives taken by border towns to promote the well-being of resident populations and improve relations between border localities. Loungou (2010) and Zogo Nkada (2011) then examine the free movement of people in the CEMAC area. The first analyses the differences between Member States on this issue, with countries that are reluctant (Gabon and Equatorial Guinea) and those that are in favour (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic and Chad). The second is a comparative study of the state of construction of free movement between CEMAC and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This is subject to numerous obstacles in CEMAC, whereas it is effective in ECOWAS. Finally, the work of Boudzanga (2013) highlights the resistance of the central powers in Gabon and Cameroon to the virtuous decentralisation process. In the first part, the article outlines the foundations of regional integration: its specific features and the factors that contribute to its development. The second part, on the other hand, contributes to the analysis of these different issues, between the elements that contribute to the strengthening of cross-border cooperation and the obstacles and brakes that obstruct its growth. Finally, the last part is devoted to demonstrating that the border is a resource for border regions and the State. For this reason, attraction mechanisms are designed to seize this resource.https://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/11990borderregional integrationCEMACNorth GabonSouth Cameroon |
| spellingShingle | Poliny Ndong Beka II La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) L'Espace Politique border regional integration CEMAC North Gabon South Cameroon |
| title | La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) |
| title_full | La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) |
| title_fullStr | La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) |
| title_full_unstemmed | La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) |
| title_short | La mise en œuvre de l’intégration régionale en zones frontalières dans la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) |
| title_sort | la mise en oeuvre de l integration regionale en zones frontalieres dans la communaute economique et monetaire de l afrique centrale cemac |
| topic | border regional integration CEMAC North Gabon South Cameroon |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/11990 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT polinyndongbekaii lamiseenœuvredelintegrationregionaleenzonesfrontalieresdanslacommunauteeconomiqueetmonetairedelafriquecentralecemac |