GIABA TO HOLD SECOND EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERIAL MEETING IN ACCRA, GHANA
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) is set to hold an Extraordinary Session on July 19, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, to discuss the membership of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES).
The Extraordinary Session is in line with Articles 9 and 11 of the GIABA Revised Statute as the principal decision-making organ of GIABA, comprising the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Internal Affairs or Security, and the Minister of Justice of each Signatory member State.
The session became necessary after the Sixty-seventh Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held on 22 June 2025 in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the chairmanship of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the Authority.
The Authority endorses the recommendation of the Extraordinary Session of Council with respect to the appointment of a Chief Negotiator to lead the discussions with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to ensure an orderly withdrawal process, safeguard institutional and citizen interests, and minimising regional market disruption.
Amongst the functions of the GMC as contained in the Statutes of GIABA is to propose the issuance of formal notifications and recommend, through Council, the suspension of signatory States which fail to fulfill their obligations; the need arises.
It would be recalled that Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their exit in January 2024, and they created a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States, however, ECOWAS granted the three departing countries a six-month grace period to reconsider their decision to no avail. The withdrawal became effective on January 29, 2025, after a one-year notice period.
In tandem with the decision of the Sixty-seventh Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), GMC will adopt a formal decision on the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States in relation to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the region.