Outgoing CAMES President Dr Diaka Sidibé hands over the baton to incoming leader Pr Charles Edgard Mombo in Libreville on June 19, 2026
Libreville hosted the 43rd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES) from June 15 to 19, 2026, culminating in a historic decision: Gabon, represented by Higher Education Minister Pr Charles Edgard Mombo, assumed the rotating presidency of the institution for one year. This strategic appointment positions the Central African nation at the forefront of efforts to modernize, elevate, and expand the reach of higher education across Africa.
Following intensive deliberations that yielded key recommendations and resolutions, Minister Mombo outlined Gabon’s commitment to transforming this mandate into a period of concrete achievements benefiting universities, faculty, researchers, and students across the CAMES region.
“This year of leadership will prioritize rigorous implementation of Council decisions, ensuring every resolution translates into measurable impact for our academic communities,” Mombo stated while unveiling his administration’s strategic priorities.
The Gabonese presidency will focus on accelerating the adoption of ratified recommendations, reinforcing quality assurance and academic excellence in higher education institutions, boosting the international visibility of scientific research from member states, and spearheading digital transformation initiatives across teaching and research sectors.
This forward-looking agenda builds on the groundwork laid by the CAMES Secretariat under Secretary-General Pr Souleymane Konaté. The Libreville session, which validated proposals from expert meetings held June 15–16, adopted an ambitious revitalization strategy to enhance CAMES’ standing in the global scientific landscape. Despite its vast potential, the CAMES region currently accounts for just 2% of global scientific output—an imbalance the new leadership aims to correct.
To reverse this trend, several innovative initiatives have been greenlit, including the creation of a virtual CAMES Academy. Designed as a dynamic digital hub, this platform will serve as a centralized resource for member states and institutions, offering tools to enhance university performance, facilitate knowledge sharing, and strengthen researcher capabilities.
The Gabon-led program also emphasizes strengthening solidarity among member states, expanding academic mobility, deepening scientific cooperation, and fostering innovation, university entrepreneurship, and graduate employability.
The outgoing Guinean Higher Education Minister and CAMES Council President Dr Diaka Sidibé praised the collective commitment of member states to institutional transformation and expressed confidence in Gabon’s ability to advance ongoing reforms.
The session also paid tribute to Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, whose unwavering support for higher education, scientific research, and African academic integration was widely commended by attendees.
By assuming this leadership role, Gabon inherits a pivotal mission: to position CAMES as a more agile, innovative, and globally competitive force capable of addressing modern challenges in education, research, and development. Success could herald a new chapter for African higher education and amplify the continent’s voice on the international scientific stage.
The CAMES governing body confirmed that the 44th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers will take place in 2027 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
