The Côte d’Ivoire is set to host a high-level regional gathering from May 18 to 23, 2026, as the country plays host to the 45th technical commission and plenary session of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The event will coincide with the 31st ministerial committee meeting, kicking off with an official opening ceremony in Cocody, attended by financial experts, government representatives from ECOWAS member states, technical partners, financial backers, and international observers.
Co-organized with the Côte d’Ivoire government, this regional forum serves as a key platform for assessing and aligning anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) policies across West Africa. Participants will dive into critical areas including follow-up reports on second-round mutual evaluations of member states, typology studies by the Risk, Trends, and Methods Working Group (RTMG), and updates from the Financial Intelligence Units Forum (FIUF). Technical assistance mechanisms for strengthening national frameworks will also be on the agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Budget, the Minister of Construction, Housing, and Urban Planning, Moussa Sanogo, underscored the country’s deep commitment to reinforcing regional defenses against financial crime. “Côte d’Ivoire recognizes its pivotal role in West Africa’s fight against illicit finance. Under President Alassane Ouattara’s leadership, we have prioritized a methodical, determined, and transparent approach,” he stated.
Moussa Sanogo highlighted ongoing structural reforms aimed at aligning the national AML/CFT regime with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, noting encouraging progress despite the rapidly evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks.
He called for stronger regional cooperation, emphasizing that shared intelligence, mutual trust, and consistent political will are essential to counter emerging financial crime threats. “No nation can succeed in isolation. Our collective strength lies in information-sharing, trust, and unwavering political resolve,” he said, adding that combating money laundering is not just a security issue but a cornerstone for economic growth, stability, and peace.
The Minister also stressed the importance of financial system integrity in boosting investor confidence and securing both domestic and foreign investments across ECOWAS countries.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Chair of GIABA’s Technical Commission, praised the Côte d’Ivoire for its progress in financial governance and data interoperability for AML/CFT efforts. She noted significant technical advancements among member states, driven by updated legislation and modernized Financial Intelligence Units.
However, she warned of escalating risks tied to emerging technologies such as generative AI, deepfakes, and synthetic identities—tools increasingly exploited by criminals to bypass traditional customer due diligence (CDD) checks. “Our detection systems, reporting rules, and investigator training must evolve to match these new threats,” she urged.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari also emphasized the importance of transparency around beneficial ownership, a central focus of GIABA’s third-round mutual evaluations. She commended recent progress made by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria in exiting the FATF grey list, while encouraging ongoing technical support for Côte d’Ivoire to accelerate its own transition out of the list.
The summit is expected to yield actionable recommendations aimed at fortifying prevention, detection, and enforcement mechanisms against illicit financial flows within ECOWAS—amid a backdrop of heightened security and technological challenges across West Africa.
