Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has urged West African leaders to take decisive steps toward monetary reform, aligning with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s stance that a unilateral withdrawal from the CFA franc remains an option if regional discussions stagnate.
Speaking during the opening of the second Invest in Senegal Forum on October 7, 2025, Sonko emphasized that political will, rather than technical limitations, continues to delay reform across the sub-region.
Addressing a panel on the African Renaissance alongside counterparts from Burkina Faso, Niger, and South Africa, he stressed that leaders must take responsibility for change or risk having the people impose it themselves.
The renewed call for reform comes six months after President Faye reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to establishing a national currency.
He disclosed that the BCEAO had already conducted an extensive study on the creation of a sovereign currency complete with its own name, symbol, and banknotes.
However, the president also cautioned that any transition must be gradual, underpinned by strong macroeconomic stability and sound fiscal management.
The debate over the future of the CFA franc continues to divide opinion within ECOWAS and WAEMU, with Senegal positioning itself at the forefront of the push for financial sovereignty in West Africa.
