BCEAO: 24 Business APIs Homologuées UEMOA for Instant Payments

• The BCEAO has approved 24 Business APIs to facilitate instant payment integration for companies within the UEMOA region.
• This initial list, dated September 17, 2026, includes providers from six of the eight UEMOA member countries.
• Homologation signifies that these APIs meet the BCEAO's strict functional, technical, performance, and security requirements.
• ECOBANK is notably represented for Benin and holds homologations across several other UEMOA nations.
• The Interoperable Instant Payment Platform (PI-SPI), launched on September 30, 2025, enables these 24/7 accessible and secure services across the community.

This homologation process confirms that the approved APIs adhere to the stringent functional, technical, performance, and security benchmarks established by the central bank.

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has officially approved a list of 24 Business APIs, a significant step aimed at streamlining the integration of instant payments into corporate operations across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) region. This initial roster, published on September 17, 2026, is designed to support integrated payment services facilitated through the UEMOA's Interoperable Instant Payment Platform (PI-SPI).

While the UEMOA comprises eight member states, this inaugural list features approved APIs from only six of these nations. The homologation process underscores the BCEAO's commitment to fostering a robust and secure digital payment ecosystem, ensuring that businesses can leverage advanced tools for financial transactions within the community.

A detailed breakdown of the approved APIs reveals varying levels of participation among UEMOA countries. Senegal leads the list with nine homologated APIs, closely followed by Côte d'Ivoire, which accounts for eight. Niger has two approved APIs, while Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Togo each have one API featured in this initial selection.

Notably, ECOBANK represents Benin on this list. Beyond its representation for Benin, ECOBANK has also secured homologation for its Business APIs in several other UEMOA countries, including Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. This extensive regional presence highlights the cross-border capabilities and intended reach of the PI-SPI, facilitating seamless transactions across national borders within the Union.

The BCEAO's homologation is more than a mere endorsement; it serves as a certification that the approved APIs meet the central bank's stringent functional, technical, performance, and security requirements. These interfaces empower businesses with critical capabilities, such as initiating and receiving payments, processing mass payment requests, and automating various financial operations. Furthermore, they enable real-time transaction monitoring and enhance treasury management for corporate users.

For businesses, the primary advantage lies in the direct integration of payment functionalities into their existing digital tools and processes. The BCEAO confirms that these services are universally accessible throughout the UEMOA, irrespective of the payment service provider utilized by either the payer or the beneficiary. The underlying PI-SPI, which commenced operations on September 30, 2025, functions continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is envisioned by the BCEAO as a pivotal instrument for developing interoperable, accessible, and secure instant payments across the community.

The rigorous homologation process established by the BCEAO is critical for ensuring that all instant payment API integrations adhere to specified functional, technical, and security standards. This provides a clear framework for businesses operating in the UEMOA region, emphasizing the necessity of utilizing approved providers to mitigate regulatory risks and maintain compliance with BCEAO payment system requirements.

The central bank has indicated its intention to regularly update this list as additional participants successfully complete their homologation procedures. This ongoing commitment means that legal and compliance professionals advising businesses must continuously monitor future updates to the roster of approved APIs, ensuring their clients remain compliant with the evolving landscape of digital payment integration in West Africa.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising businesses operating in the UEMOA region must ensure that any instant payment API integrations comply with BCEAO's homologation requirements, verifying that their clients use approved providers and adhere to the specified functional, technical, and security standards to mitigate regulatory risks. They should also monitor future updates to the list of approved APIs.

Source: Original reporting via {source}