Franc gives West Africa good reason to like France 4 Feb 2019 Italy’s 5-Star says Paris is fuelling unemployment and migration by backing the region’s single currency. It’s true the 74-year-old franc keeps the zone’s 150 mln people oddly close to their old master. But its longevity proves the merits of stable prices over cheaper exports.
Debt boom augurs ill for fragile African economies 22 Jul 2014 Senegal is raising $500 mln abroad. Borrowing from West African franc zone governments is set to jump 50 pct to $7.2 bln in 2014. But big trade deficits mean the region would struggle to cope with a sudden withdrawal of foreign liquidity – a frequent shift in emerging markets.