African local governments bloc: Central Africa backs Cameroon for vice presidency role.

Cameroon received the backing during the Central African Regional Caucus of the continental body, which has over 44 member countries and stands out as the biggest grouping of local governments in Africa. 

The two-day event was hosted in Yaounde by the United Cities and Councils of Cameroon, UCCC, from March 9 to 10. It was organised as part of preparations for the forthcoming executive committee meeting of UCLG Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania later this month.

It brought together delegates from the eight countries that make up the Central African regional arm of the African grouping.

Delegates used the event to evaluate the state of decentralisation and local governance in the Central African subregion and discussed ways to better empower local government institutions for greater achievements in the future. 

They used the gathering to nominate officials who will man the affairs of the Central African Region in the months and years ahead, and represent the zone during elections at the forthcoming UCLG Africa congress it will also vote its leaders for the organisation’s global body known simply as United Cities and Local Governments, UCLG.

The region equally used the caucus to elect its officials for other components that make up the continental grouping. Amongst them, the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa, REFELA, which serves as the permanent committee for gender equality at UCLG Africa, those of the Forum of Regions of Africa, FORAF, as well as officials of the Network of Young Elected Local Officials of Africa, YELO.

Cameroon backed to lead Central Africa

Officials told pressmen at the end of the gathering that the major outcome of the event which was by the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam, is the Central African Region’s move to nominate Cameroon as its lead candidate for the forthcoming elections in Nouakchott.

According to the officials, Cameroon’s backing means the country, through UCCC, will produce one of the four vice presidents of UCLG Africa. 

It means a Cameroonian will replace the mayor of Libreville, Gabon, Pierre Mathieu Obame Etoughe, who has been holding the position of Vice President for Central African Region since he replaced his compatriot, Adrien Nguema Mba, in November last year. 

This also means Cameroon will leave the meeting in Mauritania holding two major posts of responsibility at the continental level. The post of VP adds to the position of Secretary General that Cameroon is set to retain at the end of the meeting. 

Cameroon’s François Menguelé will replace his compatriot, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, who is presently holding the position whose holder serves as the general manager accountable for the accountancy and administration of UCLG Africa, including overseeing the regional offices of UCLG in Africa.

Major turning point for Central African Region

Speaking at the end of the gathering, the president of UCCC, Augustin Tamba, said the gathering, which also had Gabon retained as the country hosting the regional head office of UCLG for Central Africa, after lone challenger, Cameroon, withdrew to back the next-door neighbouring country, sets the pace for greater achievements in the region.

He said the discussions that were held and the path agreed upon for future actions will notably place Central Africa in a more advantageous position to embrace a greatly enhanced spirit of subregional integration centered around achieving bigger collective success.

“We are major players in carbon sequestration in Africa and very well ranked in the world where we sit second. But we do not benefit enough from the financial assistance that accompanies these advantages. This is the reason we must all become operational ambassadors to support the approach of our subregion,” the UCCC boss, who also doubles as the Mayor of the Yaounde VII Council, stated.

“In a political and economic world that is quite turbulent, we must position ourselves. Territories must take their responsibilities to act, and to act together. There is the continental free trade zone, but we also have an interest in making a regional free trade zone around the countries of Central Africa. Central Africa has many assets,” Tamba added.

Incoming UCLG Africa Secretary General, Francois Menguele, said he is looking forward to see Central African countries taking bolder steps in ensuring that they strongly build on the newfound momentum that they gained at the Yaounde event and join the rest of the continent to articulate the contribution of local government and local authorities in shaping a better Africa. 

He said as the new SG of UCLG Africa, he hopes to ensure that the Central African Region notably puts together a unified carbon market and builds assets that enable the region to live on its own means without relying on funding schemes like donations, for survival.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3729 of Thursday March 12, 2026