Ali Bongo elected chairperson of Central African states blocAli Bo

By James Tasamb

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba was elected Saturday for the rotating chairmanship of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

Bongo was elected during the 22nd ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the ECCAS, in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

He replaced his Congolese counterpart, President Felix Tshisekedi, at a ceremony presided over by the bloc’s Commission chairperson Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo.

Bongo, who will hold the mantle for 12 months, hailed the work done by Tshisekedi.

“I congratulate my brother President Tshisekedi on the remarkable work accomplished during his term. Amid multiple crises such as the effects of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, ECCAS has shown resilience,” said Bongo.

He urged unity within the bloc in addressing regional security issues and global challenges.

“I take up this leadership amid multiple challenges such as climate change impacts and security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, the Sahel, the Chad Basin and eastern Congo. However, I firmly believe in the ability of our bloc to tackle them,” he said. “But it requires us to act collectively with determination and solidarity, taking ownership of issues in our region. Throughout my mandate I intend to pay particular attention to the financing of our organization.”

Bongo, 63, was first elected president in 2009 after the death of his father Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had ruled the tiny oil-rich Central African state for more than 41 years.

He was re-elected in 2016 in polls observers said were marred by violence and he is expected to lead his Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) in the August 2023 presidential elections.

He suffered a stroke in October 2018 which kept him out of the public for months.

With its headquarters in Libreville, Gabon, the ECCAS was established in 1983 and has 11 member countries -- Republic of Congo, DR Congo, CAR, Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon and Chad.