Central Africa welcomes Léandre Bassolé as the newly appointed Regional Director General by the AfDB.
In the heart of Cameroon, a significant milestone was marked on August 27, 2025, as Leandre Bassole officially took office as the Director General of the African Development Bank Group's Regional Office for Development, Integration, and Business Delivery for Central Africa.
Mr. Bassole's office was warmly welcomed by Oumarou Chinmoun, Secretary General of the Cameroonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later by Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, and Governor of the Bank for Cameroon.
The African Development Bank's regional office, based in Yaoundé, covers seven countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, DRC, and Chad. The Bank's strategic role in the development of Cameroon and the sub-region was a key topic of discussion during the welcome ceremonies.
Mr. Bassole's first official engagements were focused on discussions with both Oumarou Chinmoun and Alamine Ousmane Mey. The talks centred around the state of cooperation, the progress of existing projects, and the prospects for new commitments in support of Cameroon's National Development Strategy 2030.
As of 30 June 2025, the African Development Bank Group's portfolio in Cameroon comprises 24 projects, with a focus on priority development-related sectors. Nearly 50% of the Bank's commitments in Cameroon are in the transport sector, followed by energy and agriculture.
Mr. Bassole's goal is to develop projects and programs that meet the aspirations of the Cameroonian authorities and contribute, in a sustainable way, to improving the living conditions of the population. His strategy is to implement integrated projects that will have a real impact on the economy and the quality of life of the population in the seven countries covered by the regional office.
The African Development Bank's commitments in Cameroon amount to around $2.2 billion. Beyond Cameroon, the Bank has conducted projects with a total volume exceeding $5 billion in the Central African Republic through its regional office for development, integration, and business operations in Central Africa. The Central African Republic has a major investment program of 12.8 billion USD planned until 2028 in infrastructure, security, and education.
Oumarou Chinmoun expressed the Cameroonian government's appreciation for the African Development Bank choosing Cameroon to host its headquarters in the sub-region. Leandre Bassole emphasized the Bank's priority to strengthen its operational presence, accelerate project implementation, and increase the impact of projects in the seven countries covered by the regional office.
Mr. Bassole also highlighted his ambition to make Yaoundé a center of excellence and to roll out regional operations from Cameroon. The discussions between the parties underscored the Bank's strategic role in the development of Cameroon and the sub-region, and the Cameroonian government's commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the African Development Bank.
