ECOWAS has reaffirmed its commitment to combating money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes, calling for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard financial integrity and security across West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to combating money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes through stronger regional cooperation and coordinated action.
The commitment was reiterated by the High Commissioner of the Republic of The Gambia and Dean of the ECOWAS Ambassadors, Mr Hadrammeh Sidibeh, during the annual briefing organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) for ambassadors, technical and financial partners in Dakar, Senegal.
Sidibeh described the annual briefing as an important platform for dialogue involving ECOWAS institutions, diplomats, development partners and the media.
He said financial security has become inseparable from national and regional security in West Africa, noting that terrorism, cybercrime, illicit financial flows and transnational organised crime require coordinated regional responses.
According to him, GIABA has remained at the forefront of strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks across ECOWAS member states for more than 25 years.
He noted that the ongoing third round of mutual evaluations is focused on assessing the effectiveness of national systems designed to combat financial crimes.
Sidibeh pledged the continued support of the diplomatic corps in promoting cooperation, transparency, good governance and regional integration across the sub-region.
He also commended GIABA’s technical and financial partners for supporting capacity-building and technical assistance programmes that have strengthened public governance, financial resilience and investor confidence.
The ambassador described the media as an indispensable partner in promoting transparency, accountability and integrity through investigative journalism, urging member states to deepen collaboration in addressing emerging financial crimes that threaten regional stability.
Sidibeh further praised GIABA Director-General, Mr Edwin Harris, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, Ms Zelma Fassinou, and the Senegalese authorities, including CENTIF Senegal, for their sustained commitment to advancing financial integrity and regional cooperation.
Speaking at the event, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, Ms Zelma Fassinou, said the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration among diplomats, ECOWAS institutions, development partners and the media.
She noted that West Africa continues to face growing threats from terrorism, transnational organised crime, corruption and illicit financial flows, while emerging technologies are increasingly being exploited by criminal networks.
Fassinou said the ECOWAS Vision 2050 seeks to build a prosperous and resilient region founded on democracy, transparency, good governance and the rule of law, stressing that the vision depends on credible and integrity-driven financial systems.
She added that GIABA has spent more than two decades strengthening national frameworks against money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing, while the current round of mutual evaluations is assessing the effectiveness of these measures.
Fassinou commended technical and financial partners for supporting regional reforms and mobilising resources to tackle financial crimes. She also acknowledged the media’s role in promoting transparency, accountability and public awareness on economic and financial crimes.
Describing the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing as a shared responsibility, she called for greater collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, businesses and the media.
Fassinou expressed confidence that the annual briefing would strengthen partnerships, enhance support for GIABA’s regional mandate and further advance ECOWAS’ commitment to regional integration.
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