Wednesday 02nd September 2026, Ms. GASHUMBA Jeanne Pauline, the Director General of Rwanda Financial Intelligence Centre and the outgoing chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Task Force of Senior Officials, opens the 52^nd Task Force Plenary Meeting in Kigali, under the theme: “From Technical Compliance to Demonstrable Outcomes: Strengthening Effective AML/CFT/CPF Systems in Eastern and Southern Africa.”

In her opening remarks, the Chairperson recognises the progress made across the region in strengthening legal, institutional and operational frameworks, while calling for greater focus on effectiveness and measurable results.

“Compliance on paper, while essential, is not an end in itself.”

She emphasizes that AML/CFT/CPF systems must translate commitments into tangible outcomes, including quality financial intelligence, effective investigations and prosecutions, asset recovery, and disruption of networks involved in money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

“No single country can address these risks in isolation.”

She therefore calls for stronger cross-border cooperation, timely information exchange, mutual legal assistance, joint analysis and sustainable solutions to shared regional challenges.

Ms. Fikile P. Zitha, the ESAAMLG Executive Secretary, commends Rwanda for hosting the meetings and for the warm welcome extended to delegates from across the region and beyond.

“We appreciate how Rwanda is hosting these meetings with the warm welcome.”

She further highlights Rwanda’s contribution to the regional and international fight against financial crimes, noting the importance of countries working together to protect the integrity of the international financial system.

“These kinds of crimes respect no borders, so we always encourage international cooperation.”

Rwanda has held the Presidency of the ESAAMLG Council of Ministers and the Chairmanship of the Task Force of Senior Officials since August 2025, providing strategic leadership in advancing the Group’s priorities. Both positions has been handed over to Madagascar.

The ESAAMLG 2026 Meetings, taking place in Kigali from 31 August to 5 September 2026, include the 52^nd Task Force of Senior Officials Plenary, the 26^th Council of Ministers Meeting, and the 9^th Public-Private Sector Dialogue. They bring together Ministers, senior government officials, Heads of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), regulators, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders from 22 ESAAMLG member countries, alongside representatives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the United Kingdom, the United States, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank, COMESA, SADC, other international organisations, cooperating and supporting nations, development partners, and local stakeholders.