CEMAC Integration: BEAC Proposes FEFAC as a Single Forum to Streamline Financial Events and Boost Visibility

By Banyong Fonyam Jonie Jr.
Legal & Regulatory Compliance Professional | CEMAC Region | Douala

In a decisive move to address the proliferation of sector-specific financial meetings across the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has launched a public consultation on the creation of a unified platform: the Central African Economic and Financial Forum (FEFAC) .

Governor’s Circular Letter No. 08/GR/2026 of May 15, 2026 invites all financial stakeholders – including banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, universities, and technical partners – to contribute to shaping this initiative before May 29, 2026.

The Problem: Institutional Silos and Event Proliferation

CEMAC already possesses a dense institutional framework: BEAC, COBAC (Banking Commission), COSUMAF (regional financial market), BDEAC (Development Bank), and GABAC (anti-money laundering). However, each institution currently organizes its own annual meetings – from Monetary Policy Seminars and Fintech Trade Shows to the Africa Capital Markets Forum and CEMAC Day.

According to the BEAC’s diagnosis, this fragmentation produces several adverse effects:

• Excessive demands on decision-makers and experts, who must manage competing meetings and deadlines;

• Fragmentation of strategic messages, diluting the effectiveness of community policies;

• Erosion of budgetary resources of states and institutions;

• Low international visibility of CEMAC as an integrated and coherent financial space.

As the BEAC notes, this situation underscores “the urgent need to establish a unifying framework that transcends the logic of institutional silos.”

The Proposed Solution: FEFAC

Under the motto “Together for an integrated Central Africa, serving its citizens,” FEFAC is designed as a permanent, inter-institutional, non-profit platform under the strategic leadership of CEMAC institution heads. Its core objectives are:

• Consolidate existing meetings into a single, structured annual event;

• Reduce overall organization costs by 40% ;

• Strengthen coherence of economic, monetary, and financial policies;

• Increase CEMAC’s attractiveness to international investors.

Proposed Format & Participation

FEFAC would bring together over 1,000 participants over one week, rotating among the six member countries, with interpretation in French, English, Arabic, and Spanish. The program would include:

• High-level plenary sessions;

• Thematic panels (digital finance, cybersecurity, Islamic finance, savings, financial stability);

• Technical workshops, B2B meetings, and an exhibition area for financial innovations.

Next Steps & Consultation Deadline

Stakeholders are invited to download the opportunity note from www.beac.int and complete the online questionnaire before May 29, 2026. A report will be submitted to community bodies in July 2026, followed by institutional registration of FEFAC and organization of its first edition.

Strategic Implications for Compliance & Legal Professionals

Beyond streamlining events, FEFAC aims to become a strategic lever for:

• Financial and monetary integration of the sub-region;

• Modernization of financial infrastructure;

• Coordination of community reforms addressing global challenges – crypto-assets, artificial intelligence, and new African financial architectures.

As the opportunity note emphasizes: “FEFAC would send a strong signal to the international community regarding the CEMAC’s determination to collectively shape its own economic and financial destiny.”

For compliance professionals operating in the CEMAC region, this initiative represents a critical development. A unified forum may lead to more harmonized regulatory guidance, clearer expectations from COBAC and BEAC, and a more coherent anti-money laundering framework under GABAC.

The question remains: will stakeholders embrace this ambition and transform it into a sustainable operational reality? With the consultation open only until May 29, 2026, now is the time to engage.

Useful link: Online questionnaire – https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/WUy_origin=lprLink

Deadline: May 29, 2026