DAKAR, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) zone slowed slightly in the second quarter of 2025, easing from 7 percent to 6.5 percent, Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said Wednesday.

"The real GDP growth rate of the region stood at 6.5 percent in the second quarter of 2025, slightly down from 7 percent recorded in the previous quarter," Brou said at the opening of the third meeting of the BCEAO's Monetary Policy Committee held in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

For the whole of 2025, the BCEAO is maintaining its forecast of robust growth at 6.3 percent, the same level as in 2024, he added, noting that "this stability is mainly driven by strong domestic demand and the dynamism of key sectors such as oil, gas, and agriculture, which continue to fuel the region's economic growth."

Members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

According to Brou, the inflation rate in the region continued its downward trend, reaching 0.6 percent in the second quarter of 2025, thanks to several factors, including improved supply of local food products, lower costs of imported foodstuffs, and a decline in fuel prices at the pump in some UEMOA countries.

"This momentum helps maintain a relatively stable economic environment for UEMOA populations, while supporting the competitiveness of local businesses," he said, adding that although external accounts improved in the first half of 2025, downside risks remain due to global uncertainties that could affect the terms of trade. ■