Commercial banks in the CEMAC region borrowed a record 535.5 billion FCFA from the Central Bank of States of Central Africa (BEAC) during its weekly liquidity injection on July 14.
The figure represents a sharp spike in demand for central bank funding, underscoring acute liquidity constraints within the banking sector despite recent policy easing measures by the monetary authority.
The surge in borrowing indicates that commercial lenders are facing significant funding gaps that the BEAC's relaxation of conditions has not yet fully alleviated.
Market participants view the elevated demand as a stress signal, suggesting that credit conditions remain tight and that banks are relying heavily on central bank facilities to meet obligations.
This dynamic raises questions about the transmission of monetary policy and the health of the interbank market in the CFA franc zone.
The development comes as policymakers in emerging African markets navigate complex liquidity landscapes.