The Bank of Central African States, with the support of the IMF, initiates preparatory work for a Central Bank Digital Currency.
A project aimed at modernizing payments, strengthening monetary sovereignty, and supporting the digital transformation of the sub-regional economy.
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The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa is embarking on a major turning point in its financial policy. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has launched, in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the first technical reflections around a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), expected to become a new instrument of monetary modernization in the sub-region.
In the face of the global rise of digital payments and private digital assets, CEMAC intends to preserve its financial sovereignty while adapting its banking system to new uses. The project aims in particular to further secure transactions, streamline cross-border payments, and improve access to financial services in still underbanked areas.
The future digital currency could also reduce the costs of intra-community transfers, strengthen the transparency of financial flows, and optimize cash circulation within the six member states.
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To ensure the credibility of the system, BEAC relies on a gradual and supervised approach. The IMF provides its expertise on regulatory, technological, and prudential aspects, notably in cybersecurity and risk management.
Beyond innovation, this project reflects a political ambition: to integrate Central Africa into the new digital economy without destabilizing macroeconomic balances. With this initiative, CEMAC demonstrates its willingness to modernize its financial architecture and consolidate trust around the CFA franc in the digital age.
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