Research & Policy Analysis | November 2026
The African Center has released a new research and policy analysis examining the key outcomes of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) October 2026 Plenary and their implications for Africa’s financial integrity framework.
Held in Paris from 28–30 October 2026, the Plenary marked significant developments in global efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit financial flows. The analysis highlights the removal of Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from FATF increased monitoring — bringing the number of African countries delisted across three plenaries in 2025–2026 to eight.
It further examines emerging risks associated with virtual assets, organised fraud, and scam compounds, alongside the importance of proportionate regulatory approaches, effective financial intelligence, international cooperation, and asset recovery.
The publication emphasises that exiting FATF increased monitoring is an important achievement, but sustaining institutional reforms and delivering measurable results remain essential to Africa’s long-term financial integrity.
Author: Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu
Contributors: Tijani Dauda and Emmanuela Okonkwo-Abutu
