AfCFTA 2030 and Congo: The EESC Sets Priorities for 2026
In Brazzaville on January 16, the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC) stated that the institution will continue in 2026 what it began in 2025 with representatives from ministries and business leaders: tracking the 2030 horizon for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Speaking at a New Year’s ceremony, she framed the next steps as a practical matter. “For us, it is about understanding how Congo is preparing for the removal of customs barriers by 2030,” she said, linking the EESC’s work to the timeline set by the agreement’s implementation goals.
Customs Barriers, Competitiveness, and the 2030 Deadline
By placing the “removal of customs barriers” at the center of its 2026 agenda, the EESC signals a focus on the mechanics of market opening rather than abstract commitments. This approach also reflects an effort to maintain dialogue between public administration and private operators closest to commercial realities.
The discussion, as presented, is less about slogans and more about preparation: how procedures, institutions, and businesses would adapt to lower tariffs and intensified regional competition. In this sense, the EESC positions itself as a venue where issues can be raised early and examined calmly.
Citizen Meetings and Local Development Models in Congo
It was also indicated that other topics, yet to be determined, could be addressed during “citizen meetings” in 2026. This format suggests the institution wants to broaden participation beyond experts and central administrations, while grounding its work in practical questions raised by communities.
“During this mandate, we will see how to integrate the challenges of the territories into our work by collaborating with local authorities: what is the local development model in our country,” it was stated. This remark indicates an intention to link national strategies to local needs and governance.
EESC Internal Governance: Recruitment and Social Protection Steps
Beyond the AfCFTA file, details were given on internal administrative developments. It was specified that in 2025, 36 decision-making staff meeting public service recruitment criteria were admitted, in line with quotas allocated to the institution in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
It was added that 52 decision-making staff not meeting the criteria were registered with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). This information was presented as part of the institution’s management updates, reflecting attention to adherence to recruitment standards and social protection coverage.
2026–2029 Action Plan: Training, Restructuring, Partnerships
The Vice-President of the EESC stated that during the last five months of 2025, the institution held both an extraordinary session and an ordinary session which enabled the installation of its bodies. The goal, he suggested, was to put the institution on a more operational footing.
He also indicated that the EESC has drafted a four-year action plan for 2026–2029. He outlined priorities including staff training and restructuring the general secretariat to strengthen functional capacities, pointing to a reform agenda centered on skills and organization.
Collaboration with the State, Civil Society, and Technical Partners
According to his statements, the action plan also outlines a more proactive policy of collaboration with other state institutions and bodies. The emphasis suggests the EESC wants its advisory role to be better connected to decision-making ecosystems, without losing its own consultative identity.
He also cited enhanced cooperation with civil society and a proactive approach towards technical and financial partners. In the described context, these partnerships are presented as a way to broaden expertise, support institutional capacity, and encourage coordinated approaches to economic and social issues.
The EESC’s Mandate in Congolese Public Life
The role of the EESC, as reiterated, is to examine developments in economic, social, or environmental matters and to suggest, through its opinions, adaptations it deems relevant and timely. This mandate places it at the intersection of policy analysis and institutional consultation.
By linking AfCFTA preparation, citizen consultations, and internal strengthening, the institution projects a 2026 agenda designed to be both outward-looking and methodical. For stakeholders watching the 2030 tariff horizon, the EESC’s stated priority is to keep the conversation grounded in preparation.