XOF is issued by the BCEAO and XAF by the BEAC. The currency must be specified: sharing a name does not mean banknotes can be used interchangeably in both areas.
CFA franc (XOF and XAF)
In a nutshell
The name CFA franc refers to two distinct currencies: XOF in West Africa and XAF in Central Africa.
On this page
Explained simply
A practical example
Example: a price quoted in CFA francs in Benin is in XOF; in Cameroon, it is in XAF.
Further reading
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Compare two situations
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What this means
A price in CFA francs in Benin is in XOF, issued by the BCEAO.
Educational scenarios. Amounts and rates are fictional, not current market conditions.