Supported by the Bank of Central African States under the supervision of Governor Yvon Sana Bangui, the system is based on the Community Regulation of April 8, 2026. The mechanism enables the realization of instant merchant settlements between banks, microfinance institutions, and electronic money operators.

The initiative targets a market where the banking and access to formal financial services rate stagnates at around 32%, mainly driven by the mobile payment sector. After an experimentation phase conducted in Gabon (an area with 3 million compatible electronic wallets and 2,000 active visual identifiers), the regional monetary operator plans to deploy 20,000 merchant codes by the end of 2026, before reaching 120,000 units by 2027. At the launch date, 24 financial institutions applied the common technical protocol, while 30 integration projects remained in the finalization process.

The modernization of sub-regional networks prepares the continental interconnection of financial markets. Monetary authorities foresee the connection of credit institutions in the zone to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System by the end of 2026, following the central bank's accession to the infrastructure supported by Afreximbank. The set of reforms aims to eliminate dependence on international settlement currencies in intra-African exchanges, while strengthening the efficiency of digital payment infrastructure within the regional sub-network.


Ndjomo Carlos

Tags: paiements électroniques qr code cemac banque centrale afrique centrale paiement mobile services financiers réglement communautaire monnaie électronique système panafricain de paiement