Fresh protests erupt against CFA Franc in West Africa

Some Beninese youths have burnt CFA franc bank notes to protest the use of the currency in Africa decades after independence. The bank notes are being burnt as a sign of support to Kemi Seba a Franco-Beninese activist in Dakar who was arrested for burning a CFA franc bank note.

The CFA franc is used in West and Central Africa has come under heavy criticisms of recent.

“We must do all it takes to ensure that the CFA franc is abolished for ever,” an anti-CFA franc activist, Boris Aké said.

Kemi Sheba will be grilled by an investigating judge on Tuesday in Dakar. Activists have promised to extend protests to various African countries if he is not freed.

“Kémi Seba will keep on suffering if he remains in prison. The more he stays, the more the anger of the youth will increase which could take the fight to another dimension. So I say either the CFA franc should be abandoned with the help of authorities in place or better still our leaders should stand against it and be removed from power alongside the CFA franc,” an activist told the crowd.

Kémi Seba was arrested following a complaint from the Bank of West African States. He could be jailed for 5 years if found guilty.