Old CEMAC coins lose legal tender status on 1 November
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tchadinfos
The Bank of Central African States will demonetise coins issued between 1958 and 1985 in the six CEMAC countries on 1 November 2026. They can be exchanged for 12 months, first at banks, microfinance institutions and BEAC branches, then only at the central bank, according to BEAC.
Coins from the former Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) series, issued between 1958 and 1985, will cease to be legal tender from 1 November 2026. The measure was announced on 28 October by Taoukreo Hemwue Temwa, the Central African States Bank’s (BEAC) national director in Chad.
Holders will be able to exchange the coins for coins from the 2006 or 2024 series for 12 months. From 1 November 2026 to 31 July 2027, exchanges will be available at bank, microfinance institution and BEAC branches. From 1 August to 31 October 2027, only the central bank’s branches will provide the service. From 1 November 2027, the old coins will no longer be exchangeable, Taoukreo Hemwue Temwa said.
The decision, taken by the Ministerial Committee of the Central African Monetary Union on 7 October in N’Djamena, applies to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. Coins from the 2006 and 2024 series remain valid for payments in the six countries.
BEAC had announced the withdrawal of the old coins from 1 November in an earlier notice on the demonetisation of CEMAC coins issued from 1958 to 1985.
