CEMAC: CFA Franc Coin Withdrawal by November 2026 Deadline

• Five older series of Central African CFA franc coins will lose legal tender status in CEMAC on November 1, 2026.
• The affected coin series are from 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976, and 1985, impacting six CEMAC member states.
• From November 1, 2026, these coins cannot be used for purchases, services, or debt settlement.
• Holders have until October 31, 2027, to exchange the withdrawn coins at banks, microfinance institutions, and BEAC branches.
• Only the 2006 and 2024 series of CFA franc coins will remain legal tender throughout the monetary union.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising these entities must proactively inform their clients about the upcoming invalidation of the older CFA franc coin series, effective from November 1, 2026.

The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) has announced the impending withdrawal of five older series of Central African CFA franc coins from circulation. This significant monetary policy shift, decided by the Ministerial Committee of the Central African Monetary Union (UMAC) on October 7 in N'Djamena, Chad, will see these specific coin series lose their status as legal tender across all six member states starting November 1, 2026. The affected nations include Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad, all of whom utilize the Central African CFA franc.

Specifically, the coins slated for invalidation belong to the 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976, and 1985 series. From the designated date of November 1, 2026, these particular denominations will no longer be accepted for any financial transactions, rendering them unusable for purchasing goods, settling debts, or paying for services within the monetary union. This measure aims to streamline currency in circulation, with only the more recent 2006 and 2024 series of CFA franc coins retaining their full legal tender status across the region.

The decision by the UMAC Ministerial Committee fundamentally alters the legal tender status of these older coins, making it imperative for individuals and businesses to understand the implications. Once November 1, 2026, arrives, the designated 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976, and 1985 CFA franc series will cease to be recognized as official currency for any transactional purpose. This means that any entity attempting to use or accept these coins for payments after this date will be dealing with non-legal tender, potentially leading to financial complications and losses.

To mitigate the impact of this withdrawal, a structured exchange period has been established. Holders of the invalidated coins will have a full year to exchange them for valid currency. This exchange window extends until October 31, 2027. During the initial phase of this exchange period, specifically from November 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) will facilitate these exchanges through its branches, alongside commercial banks and various microfinance institutions operating within the CEMAC zone. This phased approach ensures broad accessibility for the public to convert their old currency.

The impending CEMAC CFA franc coin withdrawal presents critical considerations for businesses, particularly those operating across the six member states, including Cameroon. Lawyers and compliance officers advising these entities must proactively inform their clients about the upcoming invalidation of the older CFA franc coin series, effective from November 1, 2026. Understanding the precise deadline for the loss of legal tender status and the subsequent exchange deadline of October 31, 2027, is paramount for ensuring operational compliance and preventing significant financial losses that could arise from holding or accepting non-legal tender currency.

Businesses must implement internal procedures to identify and remove the 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976, and 1985 CFA franc series coins from their cash registers and financial systems before the November 2026 deadline. Failure to do so could result in accepting currency that cannot be used for transactions or deposited, effectively becoming worthless. The availability of exchange points at commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and BEAC branches between November 1, 2026, and July 31, 2027, provides a crucial window for businesses to manage their cash holdings effectively and transition to the currently valid 2006 and 2024 series coins, thereby safeguarding their financial integrity within the Central African monetary union.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising businesses in CEMAC member states must inform clients about the impending invalidation of older CFA franc coin series from November 1, 2026, and the subsequent exchange deadline of October 31, 2027, to ensure operational compliance and prevent financial losses from holding non-legal tender currency.

Source: Reporting on CEMAC currency changes