Gabon assumes camès presidency for academic transformation

The outgoing CAMES acting president, Dr Diaka Sidibé, hands over the reins to the incoming president, Professor Charles Edgard Mombo, on June 19 in Libreville.

The 43rd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES), hosted in Libreville from June 15 to 19, 2026, concluded with a significant resolution: Gabon, through its Minister of Higher Education, Professor Charles Edgard Mombo, has taken on the institution’s rotating presidency for a one-year term. This strategic responsibility positions the nation at the forefront of efforts to modernize, enhance excellence, and elevate the standing of African higher education.

Following deliberations that led to the adoption of several key recommendations and resolutions, the Gabonese government representative reiterated Gabon’s steadfast commitment to ensuring this mandate translates into concrete actions and measurable outcomes, benefiting universities, faculty-researchers, scholars, and students across the CAMES region.

“Gabon’s year at the presidency will be dedicated to rigorously monitoring the Council of Ministers’ decisions, ensuring that every resolution adopted yields tangible results,” stated Mr. Mombo, outlining the primary directions of his tenure.

Specifically, Gabon intends to oversee the prompt implementation of adopted recommendations, foster the strengthening of quality assurance and academic excellence within higher education institutions, champion initiatives aimed at boosting the international visibility and appeal of scientific research produced in member states, and actively promote the digital transformation of higher education and research.

This forward-looking vision, he emphasized, builds upon the foundational work executed by the CAMES General Secretariat, led by Professor Souleymane Konaté. The 43rd ordinary session of the CAMES Council of Ministers officially endorsed the proposals put forth by experts who convened earlier in Libreville from June 15 to 16. A particular highlight was the adoption of an ambitious revitalization strategy designed to elevate the CAMES region’s position on the global scientific stage. Despite its considerable potential, the CAMES area currently accounts for merely about 2% of worldwide scientific output.

To reverse this trend, several innovative avenues were approved, including the establishment of a virtual CAMES Academy. Envisioned as a comprehensive hub for scientific and academic services, this digital platform will support member states and higher education and research institutions in their endeavors to enhance university performance, facilitate knowledge sharing, and strengthen researchers’ capabilities.

The agenda championed by Gabon also prioritizes reinforcing solidarity among member states, advancing academic mobility, intensifying scientific collaboration, and promoting innovation, university entrepreneurship, and graduate employability.

Guinea’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Dr Diaka Sidibé, the outgoing acting president of the CAMES Council of Ministers, whose governance work during her term was highly praised by her peers, commended the member states’ dedication to the institution’s transformation. She expressed full confidence in Gabon’s ability to advance the ongoing reforms.

The Libreville session also featured a profound tribute to Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, whose consistent support for higher education, scientific research, and African academic integration received unanimous acclaim from all participants.

With this presidency, Gabon embraces a pivotal mission: to cultivate CAMES into an increasingly effective, innovative, and competitive entity, capable of addressing contemporary challenges in training, research, and development. This ambitious goal could usher in a new era for African higher education and further solidify its influence within the international scientific community.

The supreme governing body of CAMES determined that the 44th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education will convene in 2027 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.