The Bank of France holds nearly 90 percent of BCEAO’s gold reserves

Evidence

There is another important point to note: the Bank of France holds almost 90 per cent of the gold reserves of the BCEAO, and therefore of the WAEMU countries, estimated in 2017 at 1,174.234 ounces, or nearly 36.5 tons. In general, central banks store their own gold reserves, except in very specific historical circumstances, since gold is the currency of currencies. It is the only asset that, in times of crisis of the international monetary system, engenders the trust of economic agents, hence the term ‘safe haven’. — Fanny Pigeaud_ Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa’s Last Colonial Currency, 245

Categorization

  • XREF: connects to: African franc-zone reserves effectively grant France subsidized loans below market rates.; Euro pegging diverts trade toward France and blocks local industrialization.; Bank of France holds nearly 90 per cent of WAEMU gold reserves (+1 more)