The Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) met in
extraordinary session by videoconference, March 20, 2020, under the chairmanship of Mr. Romuald
WADAGNI, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Benin, its current Chairman.
Also taking part in the meeting, Mr. Abdallah BOUREIMA, President of the Commission of
UEMOA, Mr. Tiémoko Meyliet KONE, Governor of the BCEAO, Mr. Christian ADOVELANDE,
President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and Mr. Mamadou NDIAYE,
Chairman of the Regional Council for Public Savings and Financial Markets
(CREPMF).
The Council considered the economic and financial repercussions of the global pandemic caused by the
Covid-19 on WAEMU countries. This will result in lower economic growth,
an increase in unemployment and negative impacts on several sectors of activity, in particular tourism,
transport, construction, commerce, industry and the financial sector.
The Ministers exchanged on the measures to be taken at community level and at country level to
support the economies and allow them to overcome the effects of this shock. They stressed the determination
governments to take all necessary measures to defeat the pandemic and limit its effects
negative effects on the population and the economy.
The Council took note of the measures proposed by the Community Bodies and Institutions, to
support the efforts under way in the Member States. The Ministers welcomed the scale of the
measures envisaged in particular to support companies in difficulty and support States in the
pandemic management. They encouraged Community Organs and Institutions to implement
of the proposed measures and to inform economic agents and the public of them through the usual channels.
The Ministers decided to follow with the greatest attention the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in
Member States, and to meet if necessary, in order to assess all additional measures
to counter its effects on the economies of the Union.