The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has raised concerns over the growing threat of money laundering, terrorist financing, cybercrime and illicit financial flows across the ECOWAS region.
Presenting its 2025 Annual Report in Dakar, Senegal, the organisation said member states have made steady progress in strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks but stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation to tackle increasingly sophisticated financial crimes.
GIABA noted that criminal networks are exploiting digital technologies and crypto-assets to facilitate illicit financial activities, warning that these crimes continue to undermine economic growth, weaken governance and threaten peace and security across West Africa.
Acting Director-General, Jallow Cherno, who represented Director-General Edwin Harris, said the organisation has supported member states through technical assistance, capacity building, national risk assessments and the strengthening of Financial Intelligence Units to improve the region’s response to financial crimes.
He reaffirmed GIABA’s commitment to helping member states disrupt terrorist financing networks, strengthen legal frameworks and enhance regional collaboration in the fight against financial crimes.
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The organisation also confirmed that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remain full members of GIABA, stressing that the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing must remain above political differences.
As his tenure draws to a close, Director-General Edwin Harris expressed confidence that GIABA would continue to promote transparent, resilient financial systems that support peace, security and sustainable development across West Africa.
