Wednesday in Yaoundé, marked by the inauguration of the new headquarters and the handover of the presidency in Cameroon. But beyond the protocol, the priority remains the survival of the institution, crippled by 22 months of salary arrears.
Family photo at the opening of the experts’ segment of the 12th ordinary session of the COMIFAC Council of Ministers, in Yaoundé.
The work of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) is the focus of discussions on November 4, 2026, in Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon. According to the official program, the day will be punctuated by two key moments in regional diplomacy: the official inauguration of the new headquarters building provided by the Cameroonian government and the transfer of the chairmanship from the Republic of Burundi to the Republic of Cameroon. However, this ministerial meeting is taking on the air of a decisive encounter for the very future of the sub-regional organization.
The alarm was raised yesterday, Tuesday, during the opening of the experts’ session. Addressing delegates from the eleven member states and technical and financial partners, the Executive Secretary of COMIFAC, Hervé Martial Maïdou, presented an alarming assessment of the social situation. Echoing the staff’s urgent grievances, he reiterated the absolute priority: « The full payment of salary arrears owed to COMIFAC staff, amounting to twenty-two months. »
“Our organization’s survival is doomed without this,” warned the Executive Secretary, emphasizing that the team now devotes “approximately 40% of its time to finding solutions to social problems instead of developing projects.” Proof of this budgetary constraint is that the organization of this conference, estimated at 120 million FCFA, was only made possible thanks to the financial support of partners.
The requirement for budgetary sovereignty of states
This cash flow crisis is at the top of the three major issues submitted to the Ministers for arbitration.
During the preparatory work, international donors reaffirmed their support while setting their conditions. Knut Gummert, representing the German-Congolese Co-facilitation of the CBFP, recalled that more than $2.9 billion had been pledged through 2030 under the Belém Fair Deal. He cautioned, however, that « Member States’ own contributions are an essential element of ownership and a determining factor for donors. » In other words, if Member States do not pay their contributions, international partners will not follow suit. This call for fiscal responsibility was echoed on behalf of the European Union by Stephen Peedell.
Climate and biodiversity: a common strategy for the decade
The second part of the discussions focuses on the strategic validation of the revised Convergence Plan 2026-2035. Presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this ten-year guidance document integrates the preservation of natural capital, climate resilience, the bioeconomy and the explicit consideration of indigenous peoples.
Finally, the third issue concerns the harmonization of sub-regional climate diplomacy. The Cameroonian Minister of Forests and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo, called on member countries to unite for COP31 in Turkey to « speak with one strong and united voice » in order to increase access to global financing, while defending « the sovereign right of our states to sustainably develop their resources. »
By bringing together social urgency, strategic overhaul and environmental challenges, the COMIFAC ministerial meeting will have to prove that the political will of member states can translate into concrete financial commitment.
COMIFAC – 12th Ordinary Session : Key Figures
Experts’ segment, Yaoundé, 3 November 2026
Chart 1 : Where does the Secretariat’s time go ?
Source: Hervé Martial Maidou, Executive Secretary. The ~60% is the complement of the stated figure.
Chart 2 : The weight of the Congo Basin
Source: UNEP statement. The ~72% is the complement of the stated figure
BOX: The 3 decisions expected this Wednesday
The headquarters: The official inauguration of the building housing COMIFAC in Yaoundé, a gift from Cameroon, took place. According to the official program, the ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, who is currently attending the Commonwealth Summit.
The presidency: The transfer of the presidency from Burundi to Cameroon has been official, with the mandate to be transferred to Cameroon for two years. Cameroon had already held the presidency until March 2023.
Survival: Adoption of the financial recovery plan adopted online on June 30, 2026, review of equal contributions and settlement of 22 months of salary arrears.
Table of figures cited
| Indicator | Value |
| Salary arrears owed to staff | 22 months |
| Share of Secretariat time spent on social issues | ~40% |
| Cost of a meeting like this one | ~120 million FCFA |
| Forest lost in the Congo Basin in 2025 | ~2.4 million hectares |
| Partner commitments through 2030 | > USD 2.9 billion |
| Share of global tropical peat carbon | ~28% |
| Plant species (about one third endemic) | ~10,000 |
| People depending on the Congo Basin | ~80 million |
