In 2024, remittances jumped by 42.59% to 1.29 million transactions, but their value fell by 11.92% to 756.7 billion FCFA. Conversely, receipts exploded: 7.81 million transactions for 1,354 billion FCFA, compared to 763.8 billion a year earlier.
Money transfer services confirm their transformation in the CEMAC zone. Long dominated by traditional money orders, these flows are now largely shaped by the rise of mobile money and international platforms. “These transactions are characterized by the absence of a bank account intervention,” recalls the Bank of Central African States, highlighting their key role in financial inclusion.
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In 2024, remittances reached 1,294,018 transactions, a sharp increase compared to 907,484 recorded in 2023. However, this volume growth masks a contraction in transferred amounts, which fell to 756.7 billion FCFA from 963.6 billion a year earlier. This development reflects the predominance of low-value transactions, often less than one million FCFA, mainly directed to destinations outside CEMAC.
Conversely, incoming flows show spectacular dynamics. The number of receipt transactions nearly tripled, rising from 2.91 to 7.81 million in one year. In value, received funds peaked at 1,354 billion FCFA, compared to 763.81 billion in 2023. This surge is notably explained by the increased openness of payment institutions to receiving international transfers, including via mobile money.
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International networks like Western Union, MoneyGram, or RIA continue to structure this market, alongside banking and microfinance actors with their own solutions. But the trend is clear: dematerialization and the flexibility of digital channels are profoundly reshaping usage.
Behind these figures, a shift is taking place: that of a system oriented towards massive and fragmented flows, where speed and accessibility take precedence over unit volume. A strategic turn for the sub-region’s economies, where transfers remain an essential lever for household financing.
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