ECCAS

In December 1981, the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) leaders agreed in principle to form a wider economic community of Central African states. The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) was established on 18 October 1983 by the UDEAC members and the members of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes States (CEPGL) (Burundi, Rwanda and the then Zaire) as well as Sao Tomé and Principe. Although the Union started functioning in 1985, it was inactive for several years due to financial constraints, conflict in the Great Lakes area, and the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was divisive as Rwanda and Angola fought on opposing sides.

In October 1999, ECCAS signed the Protocol on Relations between the African Economic Community (AEC) and the Regional Economic Communities to revive ECCAS due to its inactivity since 1992.

Angola became a full member of ECCAS in 1999. Other member states are Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe.

ECCAS aims to develop capacities to maintain peace, security, and stability as essential prerequisites for economic and social development; to develop physical, economic, and monetary integration; to develop a culture of human integration and establish an autonomous financing mechanism for ECCAS.