Cameroon Mourns the Loss of ARSEL Chairman Jean Marie Aleokol 2024
Cameroon Mourns the Loss of Jean Marie Aleokol, Esteemed Chairman of ARSEL
Cameroon has lost a distinguished leader and public servant with the passing of Jean Marie Aleokol. Mr. Aleokol, who served as the Chairman of the Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency (ARSEL), passed away in the early hours of Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Yaoundé, following an illness.
Born in 1947 in Lomié, Mr. Aleokol’s career was marked by his dedication to public service. He began his journey in the public sector on November 10, 1978, after graduating from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) as an Administrative Officer. His career spanned various roles, including responsibilities at the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries.
Mr. Aleokol’s commitment to his country was evident through his long-standing service at the Ministry of Defence, where he served as Secretary General from April 14, 1989, to December 8, 2004, and later as Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie until September 7, 2007. His expertise was not limited to Cameroon, as he was also a graduate of the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies in Paris.
At the time of his death, Mr. Aleokol was leading ARSEL, contributing significantly to regulating Cameroon’s electricity sector. His leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping policies that have impacted the nation’s energy landscape.
The news of his death has left a profound impact on the nation, with tributes pouring in from all quarters. His contributions to public administration and his role as a leader at ARSEL will be remembered for his devotion and commitment to his work.
As Cameroon mourns the loss of Jean Marie Aleokol, we reflect on his legacy and the indelible mark he left on the nation’s development. His life’s work inspires many, and his memory will continue to guide future generations of public servants.
During this difficult time, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
In office since the beginning of 2000, the second Chairman in the history of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Sector Regulatory Agency (ARSEL) is leaving the scene at the age of 77, in a context marked by concerns related to the financial balance of this sector.
Born in 1947 in Lomié in the Eastern region, Mr. Aleokol was a leading figure in the electricity sector in Cameroon. The civil administrator by training had held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arsel since the beginning of 2000, replacing Martin Aristide Okouda. During his term, he led several actions aimed at regulating the sector, defending the interests of consumers and promoting access to electricity for all. Specifically, Mr. Aleokol advocated for a reform of the electricity sector to make it more viable and efficient. In particular, he called for greater transparency on the part of the National Electricity Company (Sonel), the former concessionaire for the production, distribution and sale of electrical energy in Cameroon (now Eneo), and better management of resources.
Also, under his administration, in 2011, Law N098/022 of December 24, 1998, governing the electricity sector in Cameroon will be amended by Law N02011/022 of December 14, 2011, to guarantee more inclusive access to electricity and at more or less expensive prices. Thanks to this amendment, electricity rates were frozen at 50 CFA francs per kWh for households and 105 CFA francs for businesses between 2012 and 2023.
A graduate of the Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defense in Paris, he held the position of Deputy Director of Personnel at the general management of Sonel, in Douala in 1983. In six years, he turned around the (troubled) administration of this state company until 1989, before being appointed to the position of Secretary of State to the Minister of Defense (SED) in charge of the national gendarmerie from December 8, 2004, to September 22, 2006.
The challenge of succession
It must be said that the succession of Mr Aleokol as the head of Arsel is a major challenge. His replacement will have to take on many challenges, including continuing the reform of the sector, finding solutions to the latter’s financial difficulties and combating power cuts. According to the latest report of the Technical Commission for the Rehabilitation of Public and Parapublic Sector Enterprises (CTR), “despite the measures taken by the State at the end of 2021, to improve the financial health of the electricity sector, it should be noted that the operators’ cash flow continued to deteriorate in 2022, which did not allow Arsel to achieve its objectives of recovering the resources necessary for the proper execution of its 2022 PPA of the various sub-programs. The one relating to economic, financial and pricing regulation also recorded the lowest financial execution rate, i.e. 13.38%, due to the low amount recovered under the FDSE”. Similarly, “the resolution of concerns related to the financial balance of the sector remains a guarantee for the balance and improvement of the performance of Arsel”, the report stressed.
It should be recalled that during the year 2022, the rate of mobilization of the Agency’s overall resources decreased by 38% compared to 59.70% in 2021.
