If you hold Central African CFA francs in coin form — whether as a resident, a diaspora member sending remittances home, or an investor operating in the region — a currency deadline you cannot afford to miss is now in effect. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has officially demonetised all coins from its so-called old series, issued between 1958 and 1985, across the six-member CEMAC economic zone.
What Happened and Who Decided It
A resolution adopted on 7 October 2026 by the ministerial committee of the Central African Monetary Union (UMCA) in N’Djamena triggered the change. From 1 November 2026, old-series coins ceased to be legal tender in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. The decision covers every denomination in that series: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 FCFA (the 500 FCFA piece alone is worth approximately $0.83 at current rates; the full set of denominations spans from fractions of a cent to under a dollar).
Coins from the 2006 and 2024 series are unaffected and retain full legal tender status.
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The Exchange Window: Three Phases, One Hard Stop
BEAC has built in a tiered redemption calendar. Holders of old-series coins can exchange them at face value — meaning no haircut, no fee — but only within the windows below.
| Phase | Period | Where to Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 1 November 2026 – 31 July 2027 | Commercial banks, microfinance institutions and BEAC counters |
| Phase 2 | 1 August 2027 – 31 October 2027 | BEAC counters only |
| Phase 3 | After 31 October 2027 | No exchange — coins become worthless |
The practical implication: anyone who misses the final deadline loses the face value of their coins entirely, with no recourse. For individuals in rural or underserved areas — historically the last to learn of such policy changes — the shrinking access points in Phase 2 raise real inclusion concerns.
Why This Matters Beyond the CEMAC Border
Coin demonetisations may seem like a purely domestic housekeeping exercise, but their reach is wider than it appears. Diaspora communities — particularly in France, the United States and the United Kingdom — sometimes accumulate small-denomination FCFA coins from visits home. Those coins are now worthless outside the exchange window and, critically, can only be redeemed at institutions physically located within the CEMAC zone. There is no indication in the BEAC notice that any overseas redemption mechanism exists.
For investors and businesses operating across the region, the operational question is stock management: any cash float that includes old-series coins must be identified and exchanged before 31 July 2027 to avoid friction with commercial banks, after which only BEAC branches — far fewer in number — will accept them.
The demonetisation also signals BEAC’s broader currency modernisation drive. The 2024 coin series, introduced alongside this transition, reflects updated security and design standards, a pattern seen elsewhere on the continent: the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign in 2023 and the Bank of Ghana’s periodic note recalls both demonstrated how currency overhauls can create short-term liquidity stress if communication is inadequate.
What the BEAC Notice Does Not Clarify
The official note does not specify how many old-series coins remain in active circulation, nor does it quantify the aggregate face value that could be rendered void after October 2027. It also does not address accessibility for citizens in remote areas of Chad, the Central African Republic or rural Congo — countries where BEAC counter density is thin and financial inclusion remains a structural challenge. Whether commercial banks will actively publicise the exchange window, rather than waiting passively for customers to arrive, is equally left open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which coins are still valid in the CEMAC zone?
Coins from the 2006 and 2024 series retain full legal tender status and are unaffected by this demonetisation. Only coins issued between 1958 and 1985 — across denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 FCFA — are being withdrawn.
Can old-series coins be exchanged outside the CEMAC zone?
The BEAC notice makes no provision for overseas exchange. Redemption is limited to commercial banks, microfinance institutions and BEAC counters within the six member states. Diaspora holders would need to exchange coins during a visit to the region before the deadline.
Is there a maximum amount that can be exchanged?
The BEAC note does not mention any cap on the amount that can be redeemed at face value during either phase of the exchange window.
What happens to coins not exchanged by 31 October 2027?
After that date, old-series coins will have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged anywhere. The loss falls entirely on the holder.
Source: BEAC (Bank of Central African States), official information note, October 2026
