Bureaucratic valves: paperwork as a contested tool in the international transfer of the franc CFA in Congo-Brazzaville

Abstract Africanists have written much about interactions between multiple currencies in Africa, yet paperwork-based regulations that apply to these remain less studied. Meanwhile, ethnographic studies of paperwork examine the roles documents more state administration than commercial transactions. Based on research with individuals and institutions involved international transfer franc CFA Congo-Brazzaville during a severe foreign exchange (forex) shortage from 2016 2021, this article argues participants forex transactions manoeuvre regulate speed outflow – where functions as what I term ‘bureaucratic valves’. Responding caused by oil price slump since 2015, Bank Central African States (BEAC) required numerous buyers justify their demand. This policy slowed down money transfers because it took effort meet requirements. Yet banks, money-transfer agencies Congo subsequently developed own mechanisms cope change. These manoeuvres show is flexible essential tool for adjusting different participants, especially markets (central) banking Africa.