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 == Institutions ==
 
Stricly speaking, there actually exists two different currencies called CFA franc: the West African CFA franc ([[ISO 4217]] currency code XOF), and the Central Africa CFA franc ([[ISO 4217]] currency codes XAF). They are distinguished in French by the meaning of the abbreviation CFA. These two CFA francs have the same exchange rate with the euro (1 euro = 655.957 XOF = 655.957 XAF), and they are both guaranteed by the [[European Central Bank]], but the West African CFA franc cannot be used in Central Africa contries, and the Central Africa CFA franc cannot be used in West African countries.
 
 *The West African CFA franc (XOF) is just known in [[French language|French]] as the ''Franc CFA'', where CFA stands for ''Communauté financière d'Afrique'' ("Financial Community of Africa"). It is issued by the BCEAO (''Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest'', i.e. "Central Bank of the West African States"), located in [[Dakar]], [[Senegal]], for the 8 countries of the UEMOA (''Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine'', i.e. "[[West African Economic and Monetary Union]]"):
 **[[Benin]]
 **[[Niger]]
 **[[Senegal]]
 **[[Togo]]
 
**The Central Africa CFA franc (XAF) is just known in [[French language|French]] as the ''Franc CFA'', where CFA stands for ''Coopération financière en Afrique centrale'' ("Financial Cooperation in Central Africa"). It is issued by the BEAC (''Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale'', i.e. "Bank of the Central Africa States"), located in [[Yaounde]], [[Cameroon]], for the 6 countries of the CEMAC (''Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine'', i.e. "[[Central African Economic and Monetary Community]]"):
 **[[Cameroon]]
 **[[Central African Republic]]
 **[[Chad]]
 **[[Republic of the Congo]]
 **[[Equatorial Guinea]]
 **[[Gabon]]

They have the [[ISO 4217]] currency codes XOF and XAF, respectively.
 
 == Extern Links: ==
 * [http://www.usenghor-francophonie.org/textintegral/conferences/messmer/titre.htm Passé et Avenir du Franc C.F.A.]
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 == Institutions ==
 
Stricly speaking, there actually exist two different currencies called CFA franc: the West African CFA franc ([[ISO 4217]] currency code XOF), and the Central Africa CFA franc ([[ISO 4217]] currency codes XAF). They are distinguished in French by the meaning of the abbreviation CFA. These two CFA francs have the same exchange rate with the euro (1 euro = 655.957 XOF = 655.957 XAF), and they are both guaranteed by the [[European Central Bank]], but the West African CFA franc cannot be used in Central African contries, and the Central Africa CFA franc cannot be used in West African countries.
 
 *The West African CFA franc (XOF) is just known in [[French language|French]] as the ''Franc CFA'', where CFA stands for ''Communauté financière d'Afrique'' ("Financial Community of Africa"). It is issued by the BCEAO (''Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest'', i.e. "Central Bank of the West African States"), located in [[Dakar]], [[Senegal]], for the 8 countries of the UEMOA (''Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine'', i.e. "[[West African Economic and Monetary Union]]"):
 **[[Benin]]
 **[[Niger]]
 **[[Senegal]]
 **[[Togo]]
These 8 countries have a total population of 75.5 million inhabitants ([[2003]]) and a combined GDP of 36.96 billion USD in [[2003]]. This is about the same population and GDP as [[Vietnam]].
 
The other countries of West Africa such as [[Ghana]] or [[Nigeria]] are due to join the countries of the UEMOA in [[2006]] to establish a single currency for the whole of West Africa. However, the sheer size of Nigeria makes this project very hazardous.

*The Central Africa CFA franc (XAF) is just known in [[French language|French]] as the ''Franc CFA'', where CFA stands for ''Coopération financière en Afrique centrale'' ("Financial Cooperation in Central Africa"). It is issued by the BEAC (''Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale'', i.e. "Bank of the Central African States"), located in [[Yaounde]], [[Cameroon]], for the 6 countries of the CEMAC (''Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale'', i.e. "[[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]]"):
 **[[Cameroon]]
 **[[Central African Republic]]
 **[[Chad]]
 **[[Republic of the Congo]]
 **[[Equatorial Guinea]]
 **[[Gabon]]
These 8 countries have a total population of 34.15 million inhabitants ([[2003]]) and a combined GDP of 28.3 billion USD in [[2003]]. This is about the same population as [[Tanzania]], and the same GDP as [[Kazakhstan]].
 
 == Extern Links: ==
 * [http://www.usenghor-francophonie.org/textintegral/conferences/messmer/titre.htm Passé et Avenir du Franc C.F.A.]
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