It came back to me the observation of the resurgence of the phenomenon of rejection of coins and banknotes issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), on the grounds that the coins are altered. , smooth, have lost their luster or that the banknotes are crumpled and no longer valid.
This situation led to incidents in several localities where transactions between economic agents could not be resolved.
I want to reassure the populations that the smooth coins, having lost their shine or mutilated and the crumpled banknotes issued by the BCEAO are still legal tender and discharging power throughout the national territory and in all the countries of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU). They cannot therefore be refused in the context of economic transactions.
I remind the populations holding coins that have been mutilated or have become smooth, as well as banknotes crumpled by use, that they can exchange them for free at the counters of the BCEAO.

In any case, the refusal to receive the currency which is legal tender in a WAMU member state is punished by the texts in force.
Cotonou on September 03, 2020
The Minister of Economy and Finance
Romuald WADAGNI