The key points are temporarily unavailable. You can still read the full Story below.
Main Points
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has decided to maintain its primary policy rate at 3% following a meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee on September 9. The bank also kept the marginal lending facility rate at 5% and the reserve requirement ratio at 3%.
These rates have remained unchanged since March 16, following a 25-basis-point reduction earlier that month. The decision extends the monetary easing policy initiated in the first quarter of the year.
The BCEAO reported that inflation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) reached 0.4% in the second quarter of 2026, up from -0.2% in the previous quarter. The central bank attributed this increase to rising costs in transportation, housing, and specific food items, including meat, fish, and vegetables. The bank projects an average inflation rate of 1% for 2026, compared to 0% in 2025, while noting that these figures remain below the 2% threshold.
Regarding economic growth, the BCEAO expects the Union to see a 6.1% increase in 2026, following an estimated 6% growth in the second quarter on a year-on-year basis. While the central bank described the global economy as resilient despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, it identified geopolitical tensions as a potential risk for future price increases, particularly concerning energy costs.
In Togo, fuel prices were increased effective September 11, 2026. The price of unleaded gasoline rose from 725 FCFA to 817 FCFA per liter, while diesel increased from 750 FCFA to 766 FCFA. These adjustments follow a previous price hike three months earlier, when gasoline rose from 680 FCFA to 725 FCFA and diesel from 695 FCFA to 750 FCFA. Analysts suggest these rising fuel costs may exert upward pressure on the prices of transportation, freight, and food products.
Article and image source: togofirst.com
