The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa has published its 2025 technical assistance report, setting out the AML/CFT/PF support needs of its member states and a framework for coordinating assistance ahead of the third round of mutual evaluations. The report draws on second-round mutual evaluation reports, typologies and other research, national risk assessments, 2023 annual country assessment reports and financial intelligence unit input. Its central message is that technical compliance has generally improved more than practical effectiveness, with GIABA’s aggregate second-round results showing 127 compliant and 259 largely compliant technical ratings, against only one substantial effectiveness rating, 17 moderate ratings and 147 low ratings. GIABA frames the report as a tool for directing technical and financial partners toward the most pressing gaps identified in member states. Common needs include technical equipment, training and awareness-raising, sectoral risk assessments, monitoring of national AML/CFT/PF strategies, implementation of FATF International Cooperation Review Group action plans, suspicious transaction report analysis, data management tools, and support on emerging risks such as cybercrime and virtual assets. Across the region, the report highlights corruption as a high-risk issue in all member states, continued weaknesses in beneficial ownership transparency and virtual asset controls, and vulnerabilities linked to cash-based economies, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and other non-bank channels. The report is intended to guide GIABA, member states and technical assistance providers rather than replace national strategies or action plans. It also supports the coordination role of the GIABA Technical Assistance Group, created to improve harmonization and monitoring of assistance aimed at correcting deficiencies identified in mutual evaluations.

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