The direct-rule colonial arrangements were thus replaced by Françafrique, the political and economic framework for control and exploitation. As a key part of this strategy, the French introduced a common currency in 1945 for several African colonies – the CFA franc (originally franc des colonies françaises d'Afrique). The official French government line was that the currency would protect the colonies from inflation arising from the devalued French franc, a consequence of the devastation experienced during World War II.

Fanny Pigeaud_ Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa's Last Colonial Curr…, loc. 23