A new report from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) mentions that the external public debt of UEMOA member states reached 4386.2 billion CFA francs, or 7.4 billion dollars in 202.

The external public debt of the UEMOA member states increased by 11.1% compared to the year 2022, bringing the external debt to 36.6% of GDP against 35.7% previously. Indeed, according to the annual report of the BCEAO, , Benin has the highest rate, with external public debt representing 38.4% of GDP in 2023 against 37.4% in 2022, although Côte d'Ivoire recorded the highest. increase in its external debt ratio (+1.5 percentage points)

Moreover, the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali are the only countries to have recorded a decrease in the share of their external debt in relation to GDP.