The SADC Secretariat successfully operationalized the SADC Anti-Money Laundering Committee (‘the SADC AML Committee’) at inaugural meeting of the SADC AML Committee held between 21 and 23 February 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The SADC AML Committee has the objectives, among others, to facilitate the convergence of the AML/CFT policies, laws and regulatory practices of SADC Member States within the framework of the FATF Recommendations and support effective and proportional action against money laundering and the financing of terrorism in the region.
Countries and organisations present at the inaugural meeting were Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the ESAAMLG, the CISNA, the CCBG, the SADC Secretariat and the UNODC, amongst others. Members present considered the election of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the SADC AML Committee, the adoption of the Terms of Reference of the SADC AML Committee, took note of the progress made in the fight against ML/TF and PF, by member countries and substructures under the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment, drafted the Work Plan of the SADC AML Committee for the period 2024 to 2026 and set up AML/CFT Working Groups of the SADC AML Committee.
Mauritius, represented by Ms Charlette, FIU Mauritius Director, was designated Team Leader for the SADC AML Committee’s AML/CFT Working Group on Monitoring and Evaluation, which shall be responsible for monitoring status of compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems in the SADC region.