BDEAC, the Development Bank of Central African States

BDEAC: definition and mission

The BDEAC (Development Bank of Central African States) is the development finance institution of the CEMAC, a community of six states: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. It has its headquarters in Brazzaville, in Congo, and mobilises resources for investment projects in the sub-region.

The place of the BDEAC in the CEMAC

The CEMAC treaty counts it among the organs of the community, alongside the Bank of Central African States and the Central African Banking Commission. It differs from the central bank: the BEAC issues the currency and conducts monetary policy, while the development bank provides medium- and long-term financing.

Its president is Dieudonné Evou Mekou, of Cameroon, who previously served as vice-governor of the BEAC. Jean-Paterne Megne Ekoga is its vice-president.

Financing and sectors supported

At the end of its last session of 2024, the board of directors of the bank approved new financing of about 125 billion CFA francs, or nearly 196 million dollars. These operations covered agro-industry, tourism and the financial sector, among others.

These sectors fall within the priorities of a bank whose purpose is to finance productive investment in the six states, through operations approved by its board of directors.

Partnership with the African Development Bank

On 12 February 2026, the president of the African Development Bank Group, Sidi Ould Tah, made an official visit to the headquarters of the bank in Brazzaville. The two leaders expressed their willingness to intensify joint action, in order to improve the impact of financing devoted to Central Africa.

The African Development Bank is preparing a new financial architecture for the continent, in which the Central African bank is to play a greater role by mobilising more resources for major projects.

Blue Fund for the Congo Basin and priority projects

Since 2021, the bank has hosted the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin, devoted in particular to forests, water, agriculture, energy transition and climate resilience. It has committed to devote 600 million dollars to it over three years.

At a round table held in Brazzaville on 26 May 2026, nearly 3.554 billion dollars of commitments were announced, including 1 billion from the World Bank, 320 million from the Green Climate Fund and 500 million from the African Solidarity Fund. Seventy priority projects make up the first investment programme. Guarantees for these projects were announced by the East African Development Bank and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa. Congolese President Denis Sassou N'Guesso, the initiator of the fund, said that the first actual project financing was due to take place before the end of 2026.