This paper examines the incidence of poverty in the Franc zone countries in 2002 and how it changed in 2003-2004. It emphasizes the core importance of redistribution policies in fighting inequalities among the (relatively) wealthier countries in this region. As concerns the Millenium Development Goal on poverty reduction, the average annual level of per capita consumption required in this respect seems unattainable for these countries, with Senegal as a possible exception.