The Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) welcomed the Union of Comoros as an observer member at the 15th Meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on 17th – 19th March 2008.  The decision to grant the Union of Comoros observer status was taken by the 7th Meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana, on 23rd August 2007. At the 15th Meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials, the Union of Comoros delegation expressed gratitude on becoming an observer member, and made commitment to work closely with the ESAAMLG to fulfil the requirements of observer members. The Union of the Comoros, in becoming an observer member, has endorsed and supports the ESAAMLG Memorandum of Understanding. It has agreed to implement the Financial Action Task Force recommendations and undergo mutual evaluation using the AML/CFT methodology applicable at the time of evaluation.

The Union of Comoros looks forward to participate actively in ESAAMLG meetings and eventually join the Group as a full member. The 15th Meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials agreed on an outreach programme for the Comoros, which will enable the Group to progressively assist the Comoros in attaining full membership. ESAAMLG will undertake an on-site visit in the Comoros to assess the AML/CFT systems in place and determine the programme of action essential to improve its systems. One critical criteria that an observer member country aspiring to become a full ESAAMLG member needs to fulfil is to enact laws criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing and commit to implementing systems to enforce the laws.

The 15th Meeting of the Task Force of Senior Officials established a Contact Group which will continue to monitor the progress that the Union of Comoros is making and report in the Plenary Meetings. The Contact Group will meet regularly in the margins of the Meetings of the Task Force of Senior Officials. The granting of observer status to the Union of Comoros is in accordance with one of the objectives of the ESAAMLG Strategic Plan (2005 – 2008) of encouraging non-ESAAMLG members in the region to cooperate in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing and to join the ESAAMLG.