During a pivotal week-long gathering in Libreville, the Gabonese government secured a leadership role in reshaping Africa’s higher education landscape. The 43rd ordinary session of the Council for African and Malagasy Higher Education (CAMES), held from June 15 to 19, 2026, concluded with a landmark handover: Gabon, represented by Professor Charles Edgard Mombo, Minister of Higher Education, assumed the rotating presidency of the institution for one year.
This strategic appointment positions Gabon at the forefront of efforts to modernize, elevate standards, and expand the global reach of higher education across the CAMES member states.
From words to action: Gabon’s blueprint for measurable progress
Following intense deliberations and the adoption of key resolutions, Professor Mombo emphasized the government’s resolve to turn decisions into tangible outcomes. “This year will be defined by rigorous follow-through on every resolution passed. We are committed to delivering on our promises—to universities, faculty, researchers, and students alike.”
The Gabonese-led presidency is set to prioritize several transformative initiatives:
- Strengthening academic quality assurance and promoting excellence in universities across the region;
- Enhancing the international visibility of scientific research produced within CAMES member countries;
- Accelerating digital transformation in higher education and research systems;
- Fostering academic mobility and deepening scientific cooperation among member states;
- Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in universities to improve graduate employability.
The outgoing chair, Dr. Diaka Sidibé, Guinea’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, commended Gabon’s readiness and praised the collective commitment of all member states to sustaining the momentum of reform.
A digital leap forward: the virtual CAMES Academy
One of the most innovative proposals endorsed during the Libreville session is the creation of a Virtual CAMES Academy. Designed as a cutting-edge digital platform, it will serve as a central hub for scientific and academic services, helping institutions:
- Strengthen university performance;
- Facilitate knowledge sharing;
- Build researcher capacity;
- Promote openness and collaboration across borders.
This initiative reflects Gabon’s broader vision: to position the CAMES space as a more dynamic, competitive, and globally influential scientific community. Currently, despite its vast potential, the CAMES region contributes only about 2% of global scientific output—a figure the Gabonese presidency aims to significantly increase.
Leadership praised, future ambitions set
The session also paid tribute to President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, whose unwavering support for higher education, research, and African academic integration was widely recognized by participants.
With a clear mandate to enhance performance and innovation, Gabon now leads the charge in steering the CAMES toward a new era—one that prioritizes excellence, digitalization, and international collaboration. The next ministerial meeting is scheduled for 2027 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where the torch will be passed to the next presidency.
