Africa's Last Colonial Currency: The CFA Franc Story

Description

Colonialism persists in many African countries due to the continuation of imperial monetary policy. This is the little-known account of the CFA Franc and economic imperialism. The CFA Franc was created in 1945, binding fourteen African states and split into two monetary zones. Why did French colonial authorities create it and how does it work? Why was independence not extended to monetary sovereignty for former French colonies? Through an exploration of the genesis of the currency and an examination of how the economic system works, the authors seek to answer these questions and more. As protests against the colonial currency grow, the need for myth-busting on the CFA Franc is vital and this exposé of colonial infrastructure proves that decolonisation is unfinished business. Contents Foreword • William F. Mitchell Map Introduction 1 A Currency at the Service of the ‘Colonial Pact’ 2 The CFA System 3 Resistance and Reprisal 4 France in Command 5 At the Service of the Françafrique 6 An Obstacle to Development 7 An Unsustainable Status Quo Epilogue Postface Notes Index