Plans to overhaul the CFA franc, a France-backed currency used by former colonies in West Africa, have drawn reactions raising from scepticism to cautious optimism.
Some experts in the region questioned whether the change amounts to much but others thought it a step forward, although vital issues remain to be tackled.
Introduced in 1945 during colonial times, the CFA is linked to the euro under an arrangement that requires African members to lodge half their reserves in the Bank of France.
The deal provides currency stability -- and a dampener on inflation -- for the eight countries in the West African Monetary Union (WAMU).
They comprise Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, which are former French colonies, as well as Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony.
But the dependence on France, and even the name of the currency itself, are under fire.
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Critics have directed withering fire, describing the CFA franc as a symbol of colonialism and past French meddling and an affront to economic sovereignty.
On Saturday, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major shift.
Under it, the CFA franc will be renamed the "eco" and its member countries will no longer be required to keep reserves in France.
The currency will retain parity with the euro, and France will quit its managerial institutions.
However, France will provide backup, in the form of a line of credit, if WAMU countries hit a currency crisis.
The description of the change as "historic" ran into immediate flak.
"It's six of one and half a dozen of the other," the Ivorian opposition newspaper Notre Voie ("Our Way") said, while the Quotidien de Dakar daily in the Senegalese capital said: "The outside has changed, but inside, nothing has moved."
Senegalese expert Makhtar Diouf said the announcement was a "non-event" while Ivorian economist Mamadou Koulibaly, an opposition candidate in next year's elections, said, "there are reasons for feeling confused."
But Togolese economist Kako Nubukpo, a key figure in the attacks on the CFA franc, said the announcement was "marvelous news... (a) historic moment."
He cautioned, however: "We will however remain vigilant about the currency regime, which should be sorted out soon -- the fixed parity (with the euro) is transitional."
Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr, writing on Facebook, said the change was "a step forward, but not a revolution nor a fundamental break."
Macron on Saturday said: "The eco will see the light of day in 2020, and I welcome it."
"If a currency is created in these conditions, it will be completely devalued. Some say that the risk is worthwhile, others say it will lead to wild ride."
T-shirt seller Mamadou Abdoulaye Ndiaye said "it's important to free ourselves from France, provided there's no trap."