As a result of the Bretton Woods agreement, on December 26, 1945, France created the CFA Franc. Since that time the CFA has been the currency of 14 african countries.

These countries are devided in two regions, the West African region and the Central African region. For both these regions a union was erected and both regions have a responsible authority for the currency.

The meaning of the abreviation CFA Franc has changed a few times since it's birth. Nowadays there is a different abreviation for the two authorities which are responsible for the CFA.

West African Economic and Monetary Union

This map shows the countries which use the CFA currency.

As the name implies, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) is responsible for the Western region.
This union has the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) as their common central bank.

For the BCEAO the CFA Franc abreviation means:
franc de la Communauté Financière d'Afrique (Franc of the African Financial Community)

The participating countries for the Western region are:

Benin
Burkina Faso
Cote d'Ivoire
Guinea-Bissau
Mali
Niger
Senegal
Togo

Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community

The union responsible for the Central region is the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
The common central bank for this region is the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).

For the BEAC the CFA Franc abreviation means:
franc de la Coopération Financière en Afrique Centrale (Franc of Financial Cooperation in Central Africa)

The participating countries for the Central region are:

Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon