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KEY OUTCOMES OF THE 26TH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS,52ND TF OF SENIOR OFFICIALS AND 9TH PPSD MEETINGS.
The ESAAMLG has successfully concluded high-level annual meetings under the Rwandan Presidency. The meetings were held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 31st August to 5th September 2026.
The meetings aimed at accelerating technical compliance and strengthening the operational effectiveness of Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, and Counter-Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) systems across its member states. Attended by almost 800 participants, the primary outcomes approved during these sessions include the following strategic pillars:
1. Mutual Evaluations and Post-Evaluation Monitoring
Burundi MER Approved: The Council approved its first 3rd Round Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) of Burundi. The MER will be published on the ESAAMLG website once it is passed through Global Q&C Reviewing Process. Burundi will be placed under the enhanced follow-up process, with its next progress assessment scheduled for August/September 2029.
Follow-Up Reports (FURs) with Re-ratings: The Task Force adopted technical compliance re-ratings for member nations demonstrating significant progress, namely, Angola, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zambia.
Lesotho Public Statement Removal: Following successful remediation of its remaining strategic technical deficiency, the Council approved the removal of Lesotho’s Public Statement from the ESAAMLG website.
On-going 3rd Round Assessments: Progress updates were noted for the ongoing mutual evaluations of Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, while upcoming cycles for Botswana and Seychelles will officially launch in November 2026.
Corrective Framework: A formal discussion paper was ordered to evaluate potential corrective measures under paragraph 107 of the ESAAMLG Procedures for jurisdictions lagging in post-evaluation implementation timelines.
2. Terrorist Financing, Risks, and Typologies
Regional TF Typology Report: The Council approved the newly designated Typology Report on Terrorist Financing in the ESAAMLG Region. The report isolates key regional threat actors (including Al-Shabaab, ISIL-Somalia, Allied Democratic Forces/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Central Africa Province [ADF/ISIL-CAP], and IS-Mozambique) and details funding channels like mobile money, cash smuggling, and hawala infrastructure.
Third CFT Operational Plan (2026–2029): Moving from the prior framework, the body approved the Third ESAAMLG CFT Operational Plan to explicitly support member countries with capacity building, model counter-terrorism strategies, and public-private partnerships.
Recommendation 8 Horizontal Study: The meeting approved the publication of a comprehensive regional study evaluating the risk-based implementation of FATF Recommendation 8, aiming to protect Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) from criminal exploitation without disrupting legitimate humanitarian aid.
Front Companies & Modern Slavery: The body adopted the typology report “Uncovering the Misuse of Front Companies for ML/TF in the ESAAMLG Region”, while advancing the upcoming Regional Risk Assessment on Illicit Financial Flows relating to Modern Slavery, Typology Study on Asset Recovery and establishing Public Private Partnership to fight IWT, Corruption, Tax Crimes and other prevalent finan cial crimes in the region.
3. Strategic, Institutional, and Governance Developments
Seventh Strategic Plan & Revenue Budget for 2027/28: The Council approved the Seventh ESAAMLG Strategic Plan (2027/28–2029/30) alongside the balanced revenue budget framework for the 2027/28 financial year to sustain joint evaluation programs.
Expanded Regional Representation: The body welcomed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a full member, adopting specialized joint assessment procedures alongside GABAC. The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) was formally granted Observer Status.
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Accessions: The body celebrated the formal admission of the FIUs of Eswatini, DRC, Madagascar, and Rwanda into the Egmont Group in July 2026.
4. 9th Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPSD)
The 9th PPSD brought together public and private sector compliance leaders under the theme “Digital Financial Services and Financial Inclusion: Balancing Innovation, Financial Inclusion and ML/TF Risk Mitigation”. Stakeholders formulated regional action steps to streamline RegTech integration, safeguard cross-border remittances, and ensure that stringent AML/CFT protocols do not inadvertently drive financial exclusion.
ESAAMLG would like to express its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC Rwanda) for their outstanding hospitality, logistical excellence, and unwavering commitment in hosting these successful sessions.
