The Côte d’Ivoire is hosting a pivotal regional gathering from May 18 to 23, 2026, where financial crime fighters from across West Africa have converged in Abidjan. The event marks the 45th session of the technical commission and the 31st ministerial meeting of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), bringing together experts, government representatives, technical partners, and international observers.
This high-level conference, coordinated with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, serves as a critical platform for reviewing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) policies across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. Participants will assess progress in the second round of mutual evaluations, analyze risk assessment reports from the Risk, Trends, and Methods Working Group (RTMG), and evaluate support mechanisms for member countries.
Moussa Sanogo, representing the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Budget, outlined Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering commitment to regional financial crime prevention. Under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, he emphasized that the country is systematically aligning its national framework with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards through structural reforms.
“Our nation recognizes both its responsibility and strategic role in West Africa. With methodical action and transparent governance, we are determined to combat illicit financial flows,” he stated. Despite the evolving sophistication of transnational criminal networks, he noted encouraging progress while stressing the urgent need for enhanced sub-regional cooperation.
“No country can tackle this challenge in isolation. Success hinges on information sharing, mutual trust, and sustained political will,” he added. He framed financial crime prevention as a cornerstone for economic stability, development, and regional peace, while highlighting the importance of clean financial systems to attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Chair of the GIABA Technical Commission, praised Côte d’Ivoire’s advancements in financial governance and data interoperability for AML/CFT efforts. She noted significant technical progress among member states, driven by updated legislation and upgraded Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs).
However, she warned of emerging threats posed by cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, deepfakes, and synthetic identities—tools increasingly exploited by criminal networks to bypass traditional customer due diligence (KYC) protocols. “Our detection systems, reporting frameworks, and investigator training must evolve to counter these new risks,” she cautioned.
She underscored the importance of transparency concerning the real beneficiaries of legal entities, a key priority in the GIABA’s third round of mutual evaluations. While celebrating recent successes—including the removal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria from FATF’s grey list—she urged continued technical support for Côte d’Ivoire to expedite its own compliance journey.
The week-long deliberations are expected to yield actionable recommendations to fortify regional mechanisms for preventing, detecting, and prosecuting illicit financial flows across ECOWAS. With security and technological threats intensifying in West Africa, this gathering represents a vital step toward unified, adaptive, and resilient financial governance.
