Change in the Number of Member States
Pursuant to the United Nations Economic and
Social Council resolution on international cooperation in water control
and development, a convention establishing the LAKE CHAD BASIN
COMMISSION was signed on 22 May 1964 in Fort-Lamy (now N'Djamena),
between the following countries:
- Federal Republic of Cameroon
- Republic of Niger
- Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Republic of Chad.
The Convention was ratified by all Member
States and the ratification instruments were deposited with the
Government of Chad, Headquarters of LCBC.
At the 5th Summit held in Lagos in April
1985, the Heads of State adopted a resolution increasing the limits of
the Lake Chad Basin. They gave a mandate to the Current Chairman of the
Summit to consult with Central African authorities and request their
opinion on the extension of the Conventional Basin. Moreover, CAR was
to be invited to join LCBC.
In fact, the Conference of Ministers of the
Environment, in accordance with a decision of Cairo Action Programme in
December 1985, among other things, advocated:
support the Lake Chad Basin Commission in its
integrated development, taking into account its relationships with
neighbouring basins of Upper Niger and Upper Oubangui. The aim is to
stop the lake from shrinking and enable the populations rationally use
its waters and ecosystems.
Consequently, the 8th Summit of the Heads
of States and Government held in Abuja in March 1994 approved Central
African Republic's admission as a full member of the Commission. This
brings the number of Member States to 5. It should be made clear that
CAR only deposited the ratification instruments with the Government of
Chad in 1998.
In July 2000, the 10th Summit of the Heads
of State and Government held in N'Djamena, approved Sudan's admission
as the 6th Member State of the Commission. The admission will only be
effective after the Parliament of that country ratifies the convention
establishing the Commission.
