The Côte d’Ivoire is set to host a pivotal regional gathering as it welcomes the 45th technical commission and plenary session of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) from May 18 to 23, 2026. This high-level event will coincide with the 31st meeting of the GIABA ministerial committee, marking a significant milestone in the collective fight against financial crime across the West African subregion.
The opening ceremony, held in the district of Cocody, brought together financial crime experts, representatives of CEDEAO member states, technical and financial partners, as well as international observers. The gathering serves as a critical platform for evaluating and aligning strategies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing (AML/CFT) across member countries.
During this week-long session, delegates will review follow-up reports on the second cycle of mutual evaluations for several member states. Discussions will also cover typology reports from the Risk, Trends, and Methods Working Group (RTMG), updates from the Financial Intelligence Units Forum (FCRF), and technical assistance mechanisms designed to strengthen national frameworks.
Addressing the assembly on behalf of the Ivorian Minister of Economy, Finance, and Budget, the Minister of Construction, Housing, and Urban Planning, Moussa Sanogo, underscored the country’s unwavering commitment to regional financial integrity. “Côte d’Ivoire fully recognizes its responsibility and role in West Africa. Under President Alassane Ouattara’s leadership, our nation has chosen to act with method, determination, and transparency,” he stated.
The minister highlighted several structural reforms aimed at aligning Ivorian regulations with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, noting encouraging progress despite the evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks. He emphasized the critical need for enhanced regional cooperation to counter emerging financial crime threats, stressing that “no single country can succeed in isolation. Our effectiveness hinges on information sharing, mutual trust, and sustained political will.”
Sanogo further emphasized that cleaning up financial systems is essential for boosting economic attractiveness in West Africa while safeguarding both domestic and foreign investments. He framed the fight against money laundering as not just a security issue but a cornerstone for economic development, stability, and peace.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Chair of the GIABA technical commission, praised Côte d’Ivoire’s strides in financial governance and interoperability of AML/CFT data. She noted that several member states have made significant technical strides through legislative improvements and modernized Financial Intelligence Units.
However, she warned of fresh challenges posed by emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and synthetic identities—tools increasingly exploited by criminals to bypass traditional customer due diligence (CDD) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols. “Our detection systems, reporting rules, and investigator training must evolve to match these new threats,” she urged.
Bakari also highlighted the importance of greater transparency regarding the ultimate beneficiaries of legal entities, a key focus of the GIABA’s third cycle of mutual evaluations. She commended the progress of member states like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria—recently removed from the FATF’s grey list—while calling for continued technical support to help Côte d’Ivoire achieve the same.
The regional forum is expected to yield actionable recommendations to fortify prevention, detection, and enforcement mechanisms against illicit financial flows within the CEDEAO space. This comes at a time when West Africa faces growing security and technological threats, demanding urgent and coordinated responses.
