From May 18 to 23, 2026, Côte d’Ivoire is proudly hosting the 45th Technical Commission/Plenary meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), alongside its 31st Ministerial Committee meeting. The opening ceremony, held this Thursday in Cocody, Abidjan, drew a significant gathering of experts, representatives from ECOWAS member states, technical and financial partners, and international observers.
This pivotal regional assembly, organized in close collaboration with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, serves as a primary strategic platform for evaluating and coordinating policies aimed at combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) across the West African region.
During this comprehensive plenary session, experts are set to meticulously review follow-up reports from several member states as part of the second cycle of mutual evaluations. Discussions will also encompass typology reports meticulously prepared by the Risks, Trends, and Methods Group (RTMG), the ongoing activities of the Financial Intelligence Units Forum (FIUF), and vital technical assistance mechanisms designed to support member countries.
Representing the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Budget, Moussa Sanogo, who also serves as the Minister of Construction, Housing, and Urban Planning, firmly reiterated Côte d’Ivoire’s unwavering commitment to bolstering the regional framework against financial criminality.
”Côte d’Ivoire is acutely aware of its responsibilities and its pivotal role within the sub-region. Under the decisive leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, our nation has chosen to act with a structured approach, unwavering determination, and transparent practices,” he affirmed.
The Ivorian government’s representative highlighted that numerous structural reforms have been initiated to align the national framework with the rigorous international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
He acknowledged that despite the rapid evolution and increasing sophistication of transnational criminal networks, the progress achieved thus far remains encouraging.
In his address, he underscored the critical need for enhanced sub-regional cooperation to effectively counter the emerging and complex forms of financial crime.
”None of our countries can succeed in isolation. Our collective effectiveness hinges on robust information sharing, mutual trust, and a consistent political will,” he declared, further emphasizing that the fight against money laundering is intrinsically ”a struggle for development, economic stability, and enduring peace.”
The minister further stressed that the purification of financial systems is indispensable for boosting the economic attractiveness of West African states and for safeguarding both national and international investments.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, the esteemed Chair of GIABA’s Technical Commission, commended Côte d’Ivoire’s commendable efforts in financial governance and in enhancing the interoperability of data pertinent to AML/CFT initiatives.
She observed that several member states are achieving significant technical advancements, largely attributable to improvements in legislative frameworks and the modernization of their Financial Intelligence Units.
However, she also alerted participants to the novel challenges posed by cutting-edge technologies, specifically generative artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and synthetic identities. These tools are increasingly exploited by criminal networks to circumvent conventional verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.
”Our detection systems, reporting protocols, and the specialized training of our investigators must urgently adapt to these evolving threats,” she advised.
The Technical Commission chair also underscored the pressing need to enhance transparency surrounding the beneficial owners of legal entities, an area identified as a major focus for GIABA’s forthcoming third round of mutual evaluations.
Finally, she applauded the notable progress made by certain member states, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria, for their recent removal from the FATF grey list. She also encouraged GIABA to continue its vital technical support to Côte d’Ivoire, aiming for a swift exit from this list, a positive development for West Africa Mali news.
This significant regional gathering is anticipated to culminate in actionable recommendations designed to fortify mechanisms for the prevention, detection, and repression of illicit financial flows throughout the ECOWAS space, particularly within a context marked by intensifying security and technological threats across West Africa.