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Central Africans Express Mixed Reactions to Continental Free Trade Area

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   KIOSSI, CAMEROON -- Analysts and businesspeople in the six-member
   Central African Economic and Monetary Community say that although the
   African Continental Free Trade Area launched in Niger last Sunday at an
   African Union summit brings hope for pan African trade, they are not
   sure CEMAC will be fully implemented anytime soon.

   CEMAC's similar free-trade area has been plagued by corruption,
   national egos and a limitation of movement that have stunted the
   initiative.

   For instance, the Cameroonian town ofKiossishares borderswith Gabon and
   Equatorial Guinea, and quite often, authorities in those two countries
   seal their borders without any comment.
   Last December, Equatorial Guinea sealed its borders for a month. That
   same month, Gabon was expelling foreign citizens, especially
   Cameroonians, from its territory for what it called security reasons.

   Puzzled by move
   Gabonese-born GabrielNdongma, who buys building material from Cameroon
   and supplies for his country and Equatorial Guinea, said recently that
   he didnot understand why the borders have to be sealed and people have
   to be chased away when central African states have a common monetary
   and economic community created to facilitate movement and trade.

   He said CEMAC leadersshould make strong political decisions that will
   make it possible for their people to travel freely among Gabon,
   Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Congo,
   the members of the economic bloc.

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