Digital payment and financial inclusion: issues of monetary sovereignty in West Africa. It is around this central theme that the National Monetary Fair opened on December 10, 2025 in Dakar, a major event organized by the National Monetary Committee (CMN), the Professional Association of Banks and Financial Establishments of Senegal (APBEF) and the Interbank Monetary Group of the West African Monetary Union (GIM-UMOA). The event brings together banks, fintechs, payment operators, regulators, public institutions and the general public around the strategic issues of financial digitalization, in a context where control of payment systems is becoming a sovereignty imperative for West African economies.
From the opening, the Director General of GIM-UEMOA, Minayegnan Coulibalyposed the debate: “More than 80% of payments in our region are still made in cash, even though digital payments are growing by 20% per year”. Recalling that the GIM-UEMOA has played a structuring role in regional electronic banking development for more than two decades, he insisted on the need to accelerate interoperability: define our own standardsbuild our inclusive payment railsand reduce technological dependence that is still too strong on foreign countries.
Abounding in the same direction, Khady Boye HanneManaging Director of BGFIBank Senegal and President of APBEFS, stressed that this Fair reflects the vision of the National Electronic Monetary Committee, nearly 80% of whose members belong to APBEF. Referring to emerging technologies – blockchain, payment by QR code, tokenization – she called for the establishment of a common framework to face the challenges of the moment, in particular cybersecurity and the rise of instant payments.
The National Director of the BCEAO for Senegal, François SENEfor its part recalled that the banking rate stricto sensu stands at 24%, compared to 64% if we include mobile money services. Welcoming the gradual implementation of the instant payments system managed by the Central Bank, he believes that the prospects for financial transformation remain largely favorable for Senegal and the sub-region.
Pour Bamba DiopDirector of microfinance institutions at the Ministry of Finance and Budget, electronic banking “is no longer an alternative, it is the beating heart of financial inclusion”. However, he warns that this rapid growth poses a major challenge: trust. Hence the essential role played by the Observatory for the quality of financial services and by the banking mediator, which it represents.
At the end of an opening ceremony packed with analyses, perspectives and commitments, the National Monétique Salon continues until tomorrow. Thematic panels, technological demonstrations and a large networking space hosted by an exhibition center bringing together the entire ecosystem: the meeting aims to outline the future guidelines for monetary sovereignty reinforced by open, inclusive and fully interoperable digital payment.