Forex trading is legal in Côte d'Ivoire and operates under a comprehensive regulatory framework governed by the West African Economic and Monetary Union. Exchange control in the country is regulated by Regulation 06/2024/CM/WAEMU of 20 December 2024 on the financial relations of member states, Law No. 2014-134 of March 4, 2014 on litigation for violations of external financial relations regulations, and various decrees and circulars issued by the Minister of Finance or the Governor of the BCEAO (1). There are no restrictions on the transfer or repatriation of capital and income earned from investments financed with convertible foreign currency (2).
Côte d'Ivoire benefits from monetary stability through its membership in the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the CFA franc zone, which uses a convertible currency pegged at a fixed exchange rate of 655.956 CFA to the Euro (2). The BCEAO, as the WAEMU's central bank, plays the role of monetary and financial regulator and oversees the management of foreign exchange reserves while harmonizing exchange rate and banking regulations across member states. The Banking Commission supervises financial institutions and ensures compliance with anti-money laundering standards, terrorist financing prevention, and financial transparency requirements (1).
"The BCEAO, as the WAEMU's central bank, plays the role of monetary and financial regulator and oversees the management of foreign exchange reserves"
The government regularly approves remittances of dividends, capital repatriation, and other transactions such as imports, licenses, and royalty fees once investments are properly established and documented. All foreign exchange transactions exceeding specified thresholds must be reported through the BCEAO's dedicated electronic platforms via accredited intermediary banks (2). Enforcement agencies including the BCEAO, Banking Commission, General Directorate of the Treasury, and Customs officers monitor compliance, with violations subject to administrative sanctions such as fines and activity suspensions, or criminal penalties including imprisonment for serious infractions (1).
Source:
https://wts.com/global/publishing-article/20250404-cote-d-ivore-exchange-control-insights~publishing-article
https://www.privacyshield.gov/ps/article?id=Cote-d-Ivoire-Foreign-Exchange-Controls
Last updated: 15-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
