CEMAC to Withdraw Five Coin Series Starting November 2026

Effective November 1, 2026, coins from the 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976, and 1985 series will no longer be legal tender for settling purchases or debts in the six member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).

This decision, adopted on October 7 in N’Djamena by the Ministerial Committee of the Central African Monetary Union (UMAC), is part of a broader effort to renew the region’s coinage. According to Yvon Sana Bangui, Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), holders of these coins will have a one-year grace period to exchange them. However, the specific practical details of the exchange process remain to be defined.

Key Details of the Withdrawal

Applicable Countries: Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
Scope: The measure targets five specific series of coins, not five specific denominations. Individuals and merchants must identify the affected issues rather than relying solely on the face value printed on each coin.
Background: The decision follows a proposal by the BEAC’s Board of Directors, which met on October 5 in the Chadian capital.
Objective: To remove older coins deemed obsolete and inconsistent, replacing them with the new "2024 Type" series, which has been in circulation since April 2025.

Addressing Coin Shortages

This renewal comes at a time when the region has faced persistent challenges in supplying metal currency for several years. The shortage of small change has complicated cash payments in markets, shops, and public transport, where cash transactions remain significant.

The new coin series includes nine denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 FCFA. Notably, it introduces a 200 FCFA coin and modifies the format of certain denominations to improve identification.

BEAC’s Strategy to Boost Availability

To strengthen coin availability, the BEAC has announced a program to put 500 million coins into circulation annually, with a cumulative target of three billion coins by 2030. The success of this strategy will depend largely on the central bank’s ability to regularly supply banks and commercial circuits.

Combating Illicit Export Networks

BEAC officials have also linked the metal currency shortage to illicit networks involved in collecting and exporting coins. Some older issues are reportedly sought after for the value of the metals and alloys used in their manufacture. However, the volumes involved and the financial damage caused by these practices have not been publicly quantified in available reports.

During a Monetary Policy Committee meeting held in Malabo on March 24, 2025, Governor Yvon Sana Bangui explained that the metallic composition of the new coins had been revised to reduce their economic appeal for diversion to other uses.

What This Means for Merchants and Holders

Beyond the withdrawal of older issues, the primary operational challenge is ensuring the availability of currency necessary for daily transactions.

For Merchants and Businesses: Those who regularly accept cash payments should prioritize checking the coins held in their registers and following official instructions regarding their exchange before the deadline.
For Individual Holders: Owners of coins from the five affected series should refer to official announcements from the BEAC for applicable exchange details.

The BEAC still needs to specify:

Which counters are authorized to handle exchanges.
Any required documentation.
The detailed schedule for the operation.

In the meantime, holders should monitor official communications from the central bank for updates on the exchange process.