Yaoundé, 17 February 2026 (ECA) – The inaugural edition of the Cafés de la Diversification Economiqueconcluded with a milestone achievement: the official launch of the Central African Economic Press Network.
Economic journalists from across the sub-region have stepped into their new roles as "Ambassadors for Economic Diversification." Their mission is to advocate for bold public policy shifts and accelerate the structural transformation of Central African economies.
The network aims to demystify complex technocratic concepts such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional value chains, natural capital, satellite accounts, and the blue economy, turning them into accessible, high-stakes topics for public debate.
In their daily editorial work, these journalists are committed to mobilizing policymakers, private sector leaders, and the general public around the transformational projects spearheaded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). This initiative is a key pillar of the Decade of Economic Diversification in Central Africa (2021-2030), adding a societal dimension to the ECA’s efforts to help Member States reshape their economic development.
By uniting economic journalists from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, ECA is shifting its "Marketing of Ideas" into high gear.
"This initiative is a game-changer for us," said Aristide Aboudi Ottou, Head of the EcoFin Agency in Democratic Republic of Congo. " Raising awareness among policymakers about economic diversification is already a daily priority for us. Personally, I will be following the ECA’s proposals very closely. This network is going to truly enhance our work; by having direct access to the ECA’s research and reports, we’ll be able to deliver much more impactful economic news. We also look forward to the ECA further helping us strengthen our skills and expertise."
Modeste Okome Mezui, Head of the Economics Desk at Gabon 24 TV, added: "our efforts to promote the AfCFTA and regional integration have often hit a wall: the lack of economic diversification. We must urgently advocate for a change in our economic model. By exporting raw materials, we are effectively exporting jobs. Joining forces with the ECA to champion this change is not just logical, it is a necessity given the current economic urgency in Central Africa."
For ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa, the goal is clear: to move economic diversification from an "option" to an imperative for sustainable development, powered by a professional, structured, and engaged economic press.
As Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of the Sub-Regional Office, emphasized: "We are not just looking for media coverage or 'buzz.' We are co-constructing a powerful and credible regional economic narrative that will drive action on diversification."
Media Contact:
Zacharie Roger MBARGA – Communications Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
637, Rue 3.069, Quartier du Lac, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Tel: (+237) 222504348
Email: zacharie.mbargayene@un.org
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org