Jean-Marc Chataigner is new EU Head to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea.

The news was broken by the outgoing Head of EU Delegation, His Excellency Philippe Van Dame. 

This was during a farewell audience granted him Tuesday August 29, by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, Alamine Ousmane Mey. 

The outgoing EU diplomat further disclosed that the incomer was Head of EU Delegation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and has also served as Ambassador and French Special envoy to the Sahel region.

Even more, the new Head of EU Delegation was French Ambassador to Madagascar and former Director of the French Institute for Research in Development, IRD.

The outgoing EU delegation head said Ambassador Jean-Marc Chataigner is a French administrator who has, for 33 years, gathered vast experience in EU diplomatic circles. 

He is said to have special focus on European development action abroad; (Service Europeen d´Action Exterieur), SEAE; of the French Ministry of European and Foreign affairs, as well as the French Development Agency, AFD; affiliate of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance; and the Ministry of Cooperation and Development.

The incoming Head of EU Delegation is also credited of having immense competences in management, programming, financing and budgeting, group motivation for positive change, strong negotiation skills, good verbal and written analytical skills, among other competences.

Van Damme gives balance sheet

The outgoing Head of EU Delegation, Phillipe Van Dame, briefly outlined the main areas that he paid most attention to during his service period.

He said when he reached Cameroon in April 2021, the scare and scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic was still at its peak. He had to grapple with this situation in collaboration with the government to bring the situation under control.

Then there is the agreement signed between the European Union and countries of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific nations that was about to expire.

Meanwhile, the European Union had engaged the process of signing the free trade agreement with Cameroon. This eventually saw the light of day and was pushed through the first three phases of implementation during Ambassador Van Damme´s tenure.

In the same year, he launched consultations with key national actors including Parliament, the government, private sector, civil society groups, and representatives of local authorities. The consultations led to the drawing up of the 2021-2027 programme. 

In the same vein, specifically on February 4, 2021, Van Dame presented to the government and representatives of the actors cited above, the three main pillars that will guide EU intervention in Cameroon. All of these were a synthesis of deliberations he had with the principal national actors; among others.