The African Common Currency Crisis
The African Union launches a common currency, and three major economies immediately face capital flight. The CFA franc zone collapses overnight.
After years of negotiation, 32 African nations launch the "Afro" — a common currency backed by a basket of commodities and managed by the new African Central Bank in Abuja. Within 72 hours, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana experience catastrophic capital flight as investors panic over untested monetary policy.
You are the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
The Situation Room
>France is furious — 14 former CFA franc zone countries have abandoned the French Treasury-backed currency overnight, eliminating Paris's monetary influence over West Africa.
>The African Central Bank's reserves are draining at $2 billion per day as it tries to defend the Afro's peg.
>South Africa refused to join and is now absorbing fleeing capital, creating a two-tier continent.
Internal Briefing Notes
• The CFA franc, used by 14 West and Central African nations, has been backed by the French Treasury since 1945, guaranteeing convertibility but limiting monetary sovereignty.
• A common currency requires fiscal convergence — but participating nations have inflation rates ranging from 3% to 35%.
• Commodity-backed currencies are inherently volatile; a single bad harvest or oil price crash could destroy the peg.
Escalation Window
Reveal each phase to see how the situation deteriorates.
The dream of African monetary sovereignty is dying in its first month. How do you save it?
Choose your response. There are no good options.
The Afro survives, but Africa trades French monetary dependency for Chinese monetary dependency.
The Afro crashes further, devastating the poor, but eventually finds its true value and builds genuine independence.
Eject the weakest economies to stabilize the core. You save the project but betray the pan-African vision and abandon the most vulnerable nations.
Related Entities
Explore the institutions, countries, and actors involved in this scenario.
Nigeria
sovereign state in West Africa
South Africa
Parliamentary republic at the southern tip of Africa. Multi-party democracy since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Kenya
country in Eastern Africa
France
Semi-presidential republic in Western Europe. Founding EU member and permanent UN Security Council member.