Senegal and Benin Vow Action to Revive WAEMU Amid Regional Tensions

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYJuly 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM UTC

TLDR

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Beninese President Patrice Talon have pledged to take concrete steps in the coming days to revitalize the WAEMU
Faye said the Union is “going through a somewhat difficult situation” and emphasized the urgency of addressing current tensions
WAEMU, which includes eight countries sharing the CFA franc, has been under pressure following political and diplomatic fallout in the region

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Beninese President Patrice Talon have pledged to take concrete steps in the coming days to revitalize the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The announcement followed a bilateral meeting held in Cotonou, Benin.

Faye said the Union is “going through a somewhat difficult situation” and emphasized the urgency of addressing current tensions. WAEMU, which includes eight countries sharing the CFA franc, has been under pressure following political and diplomatic fallout in the region.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—now aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States—have exited ECOWAS and are reportedly planning to launch a new currency. The three nations walked out of WAEMU’s ministerial session on July 11 over disputes surrounding the rotating presidency, further exposing regional rifts.

The presidents said they would rally other WAEMU leaders to restore momentum and institutional coherence within the bloc.

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Key Takeaways

The WAEMU bloc is navigating its most serious test since its inception. The walkout by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from both ECOWAS and WAEMU signals not just geopolitical realignment, but also economic fragmentation. Their pivot toward a sovereign currency challenges the shared CFA franc framework, which has underpinned WAEMU’s monetary stability. A fractured union risks weakening trade flows, cross-border investments, and regional infrastructure plans—critical elements for economic integration. As mediator, President Faye's role is pivotal. Success in mending these divisions could preserve WAEMU’s integrity and restore investor confidence. Failure could lead to a parallel monetary bloc in the Sahel, forcing the rest of West Africa to rethink the future of economic union.

Economy

WAEMU

Benin

Senegal

UEMOA