The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has placed SYSTAC 2 into production, marking a major modernisation of retail payment infrastructure across the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The platform went live on August 3, 2026, replacing the original SYSTAC system that had operated since 2007.
SYSTAC 2 handles retail payments among the six CEMAC member states Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. It processes bank transfers, direct debits, cheques and card payments through a centralised, fully online architecture based on the international ISO 20022 messaging standard. The system incorporates an automated clearing mechanism and a dispute-management module. Instant-payment functionality is planned for a later phase.
In a communiqué dated August 12, BEAC described the new platform as more modern, secure and aligned with global standards. The upgrade aims to improve the efficiency and security of operations while enabling the gradual introduction of additional payment services for economic actors in the sub-region.
SYSTAC 2 focuses on retail and mass payments of relatively lower value. It operates alongside SYGMA, BEAC’s real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system for large-value interbank transactions. An upgraded version, SYGMA V10, is scheduled for deployment, completing the modernisation of both layers of the regional payments architecture.
The original SYSTAC was designed as a net settlement system for non-urgent retail operations below a certain threshold, with national clearing centres in each member state and a regional component. Settlement of netted positions occurred daily through participants’ accounts in SYGMA. After nearly two decades of service, the shift to a centralised, ISO 20022-compliant platform addresses limitations in speed, interoperability and the capacity to support newer digital services.
CEMAC’s payment systems modernisation forms part of wider efforts to strengthen financial integration, reduce reliance on cash, and improve the efficiency of cross-border and domestic transactions within the monetary union. The adoption of ISO 20022 aligns CEMAC systems with international practices, facilitating interoperability with global and pan-African networks.
BEAC has also advanced other initiatives, including the launch of a CEMAC QR code standard for merchant payments and steps toward participation in the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). Together, these measures aim to lower transaction costs, expand financial inclusion and support intra-regional trade.
For banks, microfinance institutions, payment service providers and public treasuries participating in the system, SYSTAC 2 is expected to streamline processing and enhance operational resilience. Full benefits, including the eventual activation of instant payments, will depend on successful stabilisation of the new platform and readiness of participants’ own systems.
As the new retail clearing infrastructure beds in, attention will turn to the rollout of SYGMA V10 and the progressive expansion of digital payment services. Successful implementation would represent a significant step in modernising the financial backbone of the CEMAC zone and positioning it more effectively within Africa’s evolving payments landscape.
