By: Goshu Melisew
Ethiopia is hosting the Eastern, Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) conference aimed at combating financial crimes, the Financial Intelligence Service announced.
The Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) conference will start on Friday, August 22, 2025, and run until Saturday, August 30, 2025.
In a press briefing, Director General of the Financial Intelligence service, Muluken Amare, stated that Ethiopia has completed all necessary preparations for the conference and has already begun welcoming its guests.
The ESAAMLG is a key regional body established in 1999 to help member states combat money laundering, financing of terrorism, and other related crimes by implementing international standards. Ethiopia, a member since 2013, currently holds the group's presidency.
“As the current president, one of our responsibilities is to host the group's Council of Ministers and Senior Officials Task Force meetings, as well as the annual Public-Private Sector conferences,”Muluken said.
The conference will bring together over 1,150 delegates from member countries, observer states, and international partner organizations. The 50th Task Force of Senior Officials Meeting, the 25th Council of Ministers Meeting, and the 8th Public-Private Partnership Forum will be held, Muluken underscored.
He stressed the global nature of these crimes and the necessity of international cooperation. “These are transnational crimes, not just an issue for one or a few countries,” he stated.
He further noted Ethiopia's strong political commitment to strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) systems. Recent actions include a legal amendment to align with international standards and measures to enhance institutional capacity.
The event will serve as a crucial platform for evaluating the effectiveness of existing systems, sharing experiences, making decisions, and setting future directions in the fight against financial crime, Mulkuen noted.
