By RFIPosted on 23-12-2019Changed on 23-12-2019 at 07:13

After the "historic" announcement, the term used by Emmanuel Macron and Alassane Ouattara, the reactions of Africans, from the west, from the center, anonymous, economists or former political leaders, to this reform are not drying up. Anthology.

For Mamadou Koulibaly, candidate for the Lider party in the presidential election of 2020, this is the end of a taboo around the CFA franc. However, the eco he had dreamed of for the Cédéao area does not look like the one that is being set up . He sees the announcement in Abidjan as a very political decision, which has not been sufficiently prepared.

To declare that the CFA is dead is really political, whereas it is a serious, financial and monetary question. The CFA is not dead, because this morning, in Dakar, Ouaga, Lomé, people continue to use the CFA and will be able to use it for a long time. you remember that when the french franc, the deutsche mark and others passed to the euro, there was the treaty of Maastricht, there was the making of the notes, the establishment of the central bank, finally all a process that we do not do and we simply proclaim that the CFA franc is dead. This is what is disappointing. One has the impression that to calm the pressures of economic operators, businessmen who are worried about the difficulties of the CFA zone, the heads of state say to themselves "well, we're going to throw something at them, they're going to have fun with it and then we keep going. " No one is fooled.

Mamadou Koulibaly: "the CFA is not dead"

2019-12-23 - By Marie-Pierre Olphand

Another reaction, in Burkina Faso this time, that of Ablassé Ouedraogo, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, economist and former deputy director general of the World Trade Organization. For him, it was a political decision, of course, but one that was taken at the right time. France's support for the transition to the eco, according to him, is a good thing for African economies.

I think you have to be honest and recognize that this is a long overdue positive development. What's going to happen ? Africans are gaining a little more independence in the management of their economy. But what is important in this operation is that any currency is only worth what the economy is worth. It is a matter of trust and credibility. [With] parity with the euro, stability is maintained, the possibility of making forecasts is maintained and that is very good for investors who come from outside. It’s very positive.

Ablassé Ouedraogo: "It's very positive"

2019-12-23 - By Marie-Pierre Olphand

► Also read: The CFA franc, a whole story

" Good news ", " precipitation ": what do the Burkinabè think?

In the streets of Ouagadougou, the debate on the new currency is ongoing, and sometimes lively . Since the announcement of the creation of the eco by the Ivorian president and the decisions taken by the heads of state of the Uemoa zone, for some Burkinabè, this is a first step towards the creation of a common currency west- African. " It's a big step, but I know that there is a long way to go, " said the resident when another greeted " good news ", hoping that everything was taken into account.

This still long way worries Youlouka Damiba. This announcement could lead to a division within the West African community, he believes: “ France is only transferring the CFA to the eco. Many people are worried about this aspect which immediately divides the ECOWAS group, which had started this reflection on a single currency. With a rush like this, we arrive at the opposite. "

" A test for Africans "

Joël Santouma, Inspector of Labor and Social Law, prefers to wait before implementing the first measures announced. “ We do not know on what organization, economic, monetary, the States will truly ensure the quality of operation of this new currency. "

" In any case, the announcement of the creation of the eco is a test for the Africans ", underlines Juvénal Somé, for which that should impose rigor in the management of their economy: " Those who claim today this new currency must also behind make significant efforts. "

Even if many Ouagalais welcome this first step, they believe that their fight remains the total rupture.

► Also read: The CFA franc, a whole story

    On the same subject

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    End of the CFA franc: West Africa gains "political independence"

    Ouattara announces the replacement of the CFA franc by the eco in West Africa

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