BILATERAL COOPERATION : The BCC and the BEAC strengthen their technical and financial exchanges
La voix des entreprises 
(LVDE)— In Kinshasa, Central African monetary authorities have taken a new step toward closer regulatory cooperation. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC) officially signed a memorandum of understanding on February 28, 2026, aimed at strengthening technical exchanges and harmonizing certain prudential practices. The initiative reflects a gradual effort toward financial integration between neighboring monetary areas.
The signing ceremony took place in the Congolese capital on the sidelines of a meeting of Central African central bank governors. The agreement, signed by André Wameso for the BCC and Yvon Sana Bangui for the BEAC, establishes a structured framework for cooperation covering several strategic areas. The stated objective is to strengthen financial stability in a sub-region exposed to external shocks, digital risks and mounting pressure on macroeconomic balances.
The partnership notably covers banking supervision, modernization of payment systems, security of cross-border transactions, as well as the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Both institutions also plan to intensify cooperation in cybersecurity and financial inclusion, at a time when the digitalization of financial services is accelerating across Central Africa. According to World Bank data, the financial inclusion rate in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at around 55% in 2022, although it remains uneven between countries and monetary zones.
Beyond its technical scope, the agreement also reflects a gradual convergence between the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has its own national currency, and the CEMAC monetary zone, where the BEAC issues the common currency for six member states. Payment systems represent a key priority. According to the Bank for International Settlements, interoperability and security of financial infrastructures have become essential pillars of regional economic resilience.
The announcement follows the recent meeting of Central African central bank governors hosted by the BCC. Discussions focused on macroeconomic convergence, coordination of monetary policies, and the monitoring of stability criteria. In a global environment marked by commodity price volatility and geopolitical tensions, institutional cooperation is increasingly seen as a tool for preventing systemic risks.
For observers, this rapprochement reflects a pragmatic evolution : financial integration often begins with the harmonization of prudential standards, knowledge sharing and the securing of financial flows, before leading to broader political decisions. By strengthening their operational bridges, the BCC and the BEAC aim to reduce vulnerabilities within financial circuits and facilitate economic exchanges in a region where economic interdependence continues to grow.
Tressy Chouente
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