Nigerien PM denies making statement backing CFA Franc

A publication circulating on social media attributing to the head of government in Niger in favour of the CFA Franc has been described as a “deliberate lie” by his office.

The office of the Prime Minister on Friday formally dismissed any links with the publication attributed to the head Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, defending the common currency shared by several West African countries.

“A publication praising the merits of the CFA Franc, published on social media, falsely attributes the authorship to the Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine,”
the press release from the office indicates.

According to the office of the head of the Nigerien government, “this is in reality fake news because the Prime Minister has never made such statements, which are false and deliberately biased.”

This clarification comes at a time when monetary issues are particularly sensitive in Niger, a member country of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.

The publication, which circulated mainly on Facebook and WhatsApp, presented arguments in favour of maintaining the CFA franc, a position that contrasts sharply with the current political and economic
orientations of the Nigerien authorities.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have confirmed their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), but remain, for the time being, members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

AC/fss/as/APA