Fatima Haram Acyl, a leading figure in economic development and regional integration
Former vice-president of CEMAC and former African Union commissioner, she oversaw major Agenda 2063 initiatives, including the AfCFTA.
Translated from French. Lire en français
An influential figure in Africa’s economic development and regional integration, Fatima Haram Acyl served as vice-president of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), where she played a key role supporting the organisation’s president and ensuring the Community ran smoothly and effectively. In the president’s absence, she acted as interim president, guaranteeing institutional continuity.
Her commitment to the continent’s economic progress was also evident at the African Union, where she led major Agenda 2063 initiatives. She oversaw the strategy for launching the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the establishment of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), a key institution of the African Union Commission. These projects required high-level diplomacy, including advocacy with heads of state and government to demonstrate their socio-economic benefits, their contribution to peace-building and their advantages for women and households.
A passionate advocate of Africa’s structural transformation, Ms Acyl has worked to strengthen trade, industrialisation and the responsible use of natural resources. As a former African Union commissioner, she developed deep expertise in conflict resolution, electoral processes, peace-building, human rights, democracy and climate change. At CEMAC, beyond her administrative and financial duties, she helped design strategies addressing the specific challenges of member states, some of them going through conflict or transition.
Before reaching the highest levels of African governance, Fatima Acyl built a solid career in the public and private sectors: managing director of the Agricultural Bank of Chad, director of finance and administration at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), audit director at Crowe Chizek & Company and director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the United States.
She holds an MBA with honours in finance from Xavier University in Cincinnati (Ohio) and a BA in business administration from the Université de Moncton (New Brunswick, Canada), and speaks English, French and Arabic. Her career, at the crossroads of finance, development and diplomacy, makes her a key player in Africa’s growth and integration.
- Published on:
- Tuesday, 1 April 2025
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