The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) recorded a slight slowdown in economic growth in the second quarter of 2025, with gross domestic product (GDP) easing to 6.5 percent from 7 percent in the previous quarter, according to the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
Speaking at the opening of the BCEAO’s third Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Dakar on Wednesday, Brou said the regional economy remains resilient, supported by strong domestic demand and vibrant sectors such as oil, gas, and agriculture.
For the full year, the BCEAO is maintaining its 2025 growth forecast at 6.3 percent, the same pace as in 2024. “This stability reflects the dynamism of key sectors that continue to fuel the region’s expansion,” Brou noted.
The UEMOA, which comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, also saw inflation decline further in the second quarter, reaching 0.6 percent. The fall was attributed to improved local food supplies, cheaper imported foodstuffs, and lower pump prices in some member countries.
“This momentum helps preserve a relatively stable economic environment for populations across the union while sustaining the competitiveness of local businesses,” Brou said.
He added that although external accounts strengthened in the first half of 2025, risks remain due to global uncertainties that could affect the region’s terms of trade.
