The second edition of the Regional Shareholding Forum, held in Cotonou on 17–18 September 2026, has triggered a wave of debate across West Africa. Institutional players, business leaders and market specialists used the gathering to call for a deep shift in investment habits within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) — and the reactions since have been swift and pointed.
Organised jointly by UCA SGI and Dimensions GROUP under the theme “Shareholding and financial sovereignty: mobilising savings to accelerate economic transformation”, the event exposed a stubborn contradiction: despite brisk growth across the WAEMU zone, regional financial markets are still failing to fully capture domestic savings.
The fallout: a paradox that refuses to budge
For the organisers and regulators, the verdict is unambiguous. Strengthening popular shareholding is a decisive lever. Turning savings that often sit idle — or are funnelled into very short-term placements — into productive capital would give SMEs and large local groups the equity they need to expand.
The forum’s discussions centred on several major fronts:
- Access to capital markets: making it easier for local companies to list and injecting momentum into the Regional Securities Exchange (BRVM).
- Inclusion and innovation: using digital tools to bring investment opportunities closer to the general public and to promote financial education.
- Regulatory framework and public policy: adapting tax and legal arrangements so that savings are steered sustainably towards infrastructure and private-sector financing.
A strategic sovereignty issue that is now up for public debate
Representatives of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the WAEMU Commission and the Financial Markets Authority stressed the structural nature of this drive. By making the financing of local economies more autonomous, states and businesses in the sub-region strengthen their resilience to external shocks and international market volatility.
As the proceedings wrapped up on Friday in Cotonou, participants agreed on the urgency of encouraging every citizen to become a direct player in regional economic growth through shared investment.
What comes next: from declarations to delivery
The real test now lies in implementation. Observers are watching whether the forum’s recommendations translate into concrete measures — simpler listing rules, tax incentives for long-term savings, and digital platforms that reach beyond the traditional investor base. The coming months will show whether the Cotonou call becomes a genuine turning point or remains another well-intentioned statement.
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