YAOUNDÉ – The Bank of the Central African States (BEAC) will introduce a new range of coins into economic circulation from April 5, 2025. The announcement was made on March 24 by the Governor of the BEAC, Yvon Sana Bangui, during a press conference closing the Monetary Policy Committee in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. This initiative aims to modernize payment methods and improve the fluidity of transactions in the CEMAC region.
This reform addresses several strategic objectives. It will facilitate daily exchanges by providing populations with coins more adapted to current economic realities and will strengthen the fight against counterfeiting, thereby improving monetary security in the sub-region.
The new coins will be designed with more resistant materials and will incorporate advanced security features to guarantee their authenticity. The BEAC assures that this reform will not complicate economic transactions for the population but will improve cash circulation and reduce the costs associated with issuing low-value banknotes.
Monetary authorities encourage populations and economic actors to prepare for this transition. The BEAC has planned an awareness campaign to inform citizens and businesses about the use of the new coins, their value, and their role in the sub-regional economy.
All economic actors, such as commercial banks, financial institutions, and merchants, will be involved in this transition to ensure a smooth and effective adoption of the new coins.
The introduction of this new range of coins is part of a broader dynamic of modernizing the CEMAC monetary system. It will help reduce dependence on banknotes, which are often subject to wear and tear, and optimize monetary circulation within the common economic space.
According to monetary experts, this reform will promote better transaction fluidity and financial inclusion, particularly for small traders and rural populations who predominantly use cash for their daily exchanges.
