LATEST NEWS
46TH TF OF SENIOR OFFICIALS, 23RD CM AND 6TH PPSD MEETINGS-SEPTEMBER 2023.
ESAAMLG Held its 46th Task Force of Senior Officials, 23rd Council of Ministers and 6th Public Private Sector Dialogue Meetings in Kasane, Republic of Botswana on 01- 09 September 2023
These significant events brought together regional experts, policymakers and representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss and address crucial issues within the ESAAMLG framework. More than 400 delegates from the 20 ESAAMLG Member Countries as well as representatives of Cooperating and Supporting Nations and Organisations, such as Portugal, UK, USA, COMESA Secretariat, FATF Secretariat, GIZ, IMF, UN FAST Initiative and UNODC. Representatives of Burundi attended the Meeting as Observers seeking full ESAAMLG membership. The EU Global AML/CFT Facility and EU AML/CFT ESCAY attended as ESAAMLG Partners. Convened twice a year, the ESAAMLG Task Force meetings are designed to facilitate discussions among delegates from Member States and observers on a number of issues in relation to AML/CFT matters. The Task Force Meeting provided a conducive platform for technical experts from ESAAMLG member states and observer organizations to deliberate on the progress and challenges faced in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Participants engaged in productive discussions and exchanged valuable insights on best practices, capacity building, and strategies to enhance the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures within the region. Part of the plenary meeting also included considering Reports of the Risk, Trends and Methods Group (RTMG), the Technical Assistance and Training Coordination, FIU Forum, Working Group on Risk, Compliance and Financial Inclusion, the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee as well as the closed session of the Steering Committee. The Council of Ministers Meeting convened esteemed government officials and ministers of finance, justice, and related sectors. The meeting provided a high-level platform to deliberate and foster cooperation in combatting money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Distinguished participants engaged in robust discussions, sharing their experiences, and endorsing policy measures aimed at enhancing regional AML/CFT frameworks. The ESAAMLG Council and Task Force Plenaries provide an opportunity for the delegates to address pertinent issues that require a concerted and harmonized approach in the effective implementation of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/CFT) measures. As an experience sharing platform, the plenary sessions also provide an opportunity to establish partnerships among experts, representatives of Member States, technical partners and observers in AML/CFT. During the meetings, the 2nd Round Mutual Evaluation Report of the Kingdom of Lesotho and Follow Up Reports with Re-Ratings of Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia were approved. The Council also approved the Republic of Burundi as ESAAMLG member. Burundi will join as a full ESAAMLG member once it pays its initial subscription. The Council congratulated Burundi to join ESAAMLG as a member and assured the country that it would get full support from ESAAMLG in strengthening its AML/CFT efforts. The meeting was followed by the 6th AML/CFT Public-Private sector dialogue (PPSD) which focused on the implementation of AML/CFT programmes to combat Illicit Wildlife Trade (IWT) in the ESSAMLG Region. More than 800 participants from the public and private sector institutions attended the meeting. The Public-Private Sector Dialogue in Kasane witnessed the active participation of representatives from both the public and private sectors, including financial institutions, businesses, and professional associations. Throughout the dialogue, participants engaged in insightful conversations highlighting the importance of cooperation and information sharing between the public and private sectors in the fight against money laundering and IWT. Key outcomes of the dialogue included the identification of practical solutions to enhance public-private collaboration, the exchange of expertise in identifying and reporting suspicious transactions, and the exploration of innovative technologies to improve AML/CFT measures to counter IWT. Overall, the ESAAMLG 46th Task Force Meeting, 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting, and 6th Public Private Sector Dialogue in Kasane have affirmed the commitment of the participating stakeholders to strengthen regional AML/CFT efforts. They have also set the stage for enhanced collaboration, information sharing, and the adoption of effective measures to combat financial crimes. The ESAAMLG would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the government of Botswana for hosting this momentous gathering and to all the participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions. For further details and comprehensive reports on the outcomes of these meetings, visit our website and access the official documents.
PUBLICATIONS
| FATF |
| Mutual Evaluations |
| Strategic Plans |
| Memorandum of Understanding |
| Trends and Methods |
| Country National Strategies |
| Annual Reports |
| Compliance and Financial Inclusion |
| Other Resources |