Yaoundé: Léandre Bassolé, the new Director General of the African Development Bank Groups Regional Office for Development, Integration, and Business Delivery for Central Africa, officially assumed his role on 27 August 2025, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Bassolé presented his credentials to Oumarou Chinmoun, Secretary General of the Cameroonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who represented Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella. Their discussions underscored the Bank's strategic role in Cameroon and the broader Central African region.
According to African Press Organization, the Cameroonian government expressed satisfaction with the Bank choosing Cameroon as its sub-regional headquarters. Chinmoun remarked on the strong ties between Cameroon and the Bank, highlighting the importance of the Bank's presence in the country. Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze, represented by Alamine Ousmane Mey, emphasized the cooperative relationship, noting the 24 active projects in priority development sectors that focus on integrated projects to impact the economy and quality of life positively.
Bassolé outlined the Bank's priorities, emphasizing strengthening its operational presence and accelerating project implementation across the seven countries covered by the regional office, which includes Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, DRC, and Chad. He highlighted the commitment to regional operations from Cameroon, aiming to make Yaoundé a center of excellence. The Bank's commitments in Cameroon now total approximately $2.2 billion, with significant investments in transport, energy, and agriculture.
He concluded by expressing a commitment to work closely with Cameroonian authorities to develop projects that meet the aspirations of the local population and contribute sustainably to improving living conditions. As of 30 June 2025, the African Development Bank Group's portfolio in Cameroon included 24 projects valued at $2.2 billion. Across Central Africa, the Bank manages 130 operations, including around 40 regional and multinational projects, totaling over $5 billion.