SIERRA LEONE TO HOST THE GIABA STATUTORY MEETINGS
The Inter-Government Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, will hold its Statutory Meeting (GIABA 42nd Technical Commission /Plenary and 29th Ministerial Committee Meeting) from the 17th-23rd November 2024 in the capital city of Freetown, the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The Statutory Meeting offers an opportunity for GIABA member States to come together to discuss regional AML/CFT/PF matters and share their experiences concerning challenges faced in implementing effective AML/CFT measures. Statutory meetings are an integral part of GIABA’s efforts at fostering regional integration in the ECOWAS region.
The Plenary Meeting is an assembly of experts, including representatives of member States, regional and international technical and financial partners, and observers in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. A key feature during the meetings will be the consideration and adoption of the 2nd Round of Mutual Evaluation Report of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe; the Report is the last mutual evaluation report under the GIABA 2nd Round of Mutual Evaluation. Other reports to be considered are the Follow-Up Reports of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal in addition to the Co-Chairs of the Evaluation and Compliance Group (ECG), Co-Chairs of the Risks, Trends and Monitoring Group (RTMG), Member States Technical Assistance 2025 Report and several memorandums to ensure continuity and effective implementation of the FATF Standards.
The Plenary Meeting shall be declared opened by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Sierra Leone on Thursday, November 21, 2024 by 10:00 AM.
The GMC is the policy-making organ of GIABA. It comprises the three GIABA line ministers from all member States (Ministries of Finance, Security/Interior, and Justice). The Ministerial meeting will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM. The current Chairman of the 29th GIABA Ministerial Committee Meeting is the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The meeting will, among other things, consider and adopt the Director General’s Summary Activity Report, the Report of the 42nd GIABA Technical Commission/Plenary, and other confidential memorandums.
GIABA, as a specialised ECOWAS institution as well as FATF-Styled Regional Body (FSRB) holds twice a year its technical commission/ plenary meeting for representatives of member States to discuss several pertinent issues on AML/CFT/PF that require concerted and harmonised approach in addressing them.