Giaba west africa meeting in Abidjan focuses on financial crime fight

Abidjan is set to host a pivotal regional gathering from May 18 to 23, 2026, as the West African Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) convenes its 45th Technical Commission and 31st Ministerial Committee. The opening ceremony took place this Thursday in Cocody, drawing experts from ECOWAS member states, technical partners, financial backers, and international observers.

This high-level meeting, organized in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, serves as a critical forum for assessing and aligning anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) strategies across West Africa. Discussions will center on mutual evaluation follow-ups for several member states, typology reports from the Risks, Trends and Methods Working Group (RTMG), activities of the Financial Intelligence Units Forum (FCRF), and technical assistance frameworks for participating nations.

Speaking on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, the Minister of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning, Moussa Sanogo, underscored the country’s unwavering commitment to strengthening regional financial crime prevention mechanisms.

”Côte d’Ivoire recognizes its pivotal role in this fight,” he emphasized, highlighting the nation’s systematic approach under President Alassane Ouattara’s leadership. ‘We are acting with clarity, resolve and full transparency to safeguard our financial systems.’

The minister outlined ongoing structural reforms aimed at aligning Côte d’Ivoire’s national framework with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, noting encouraging progress despite the rapidly evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks.

He stressed that enhanced sub-regional cooperation is essential to counter emerging financial crime threats. ”No single nation can tackle this challenge alone,” he stated, advocating for robust information sharing, mutual trust, and sustained political will. ‘This battle is not just about security—it’s about fostering economic growth, stability, and peace.’

The minister also highlighted the importance of financial system integrity in boosting West African states’ economic appeal and protecting both domestic and foreign investments.

GIABA Technical Commission Chair Hafsat Abubakar Bakari commended Côte d’Ivoire’s advancements in financial governance and AML/CFT data interoperability. She noted significant technical progress among member states, driven by legislative improvements and modernized Financial Intelligence Units.

However, she warned of fresh challenges posed by emerging technologies like generative AI, deepfakes, and synthetic identities—tools criminals increasingly exploit to bypass traditional customer due diligence (KYC) protocols. ”Our detection systems and reporting rules must evolve alongside these threats,” she urged, emphasizing the need for investigator training to keep pace.

Bakari also called for greater transparency around ultimate beneficial ownership, a cornerstone of GIABA’s third-round mutual evaluations. She praised recent progress by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria—recently removed from the FATF grey list—while urging continued technical support for Côte d’Ivoire to accelerate its own exit from the list.

This regional summit is expected to yield actionable recommendations to bolster West Africa’s defenses against illicit financial flows, particularly amid intensifying security and technological risks in the ECOWAS region.