The Action Group against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC), together with SecFin Africa, is co-hosting a regional awareness forum for designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/PF) compliance requirements in Central Africa, taking place from 10 to 12 December 2025 in Brazzaville. GABAC framed the initiative as part of its efforts to systematise a risk-based approach in line with Financial Action Task Force standards, with a particular emphasis on DNFBPs and especially independent legal professionals, which it identifies as a weak link in the preventive chain following its second round of mutual evaluations. Reported outcomes include mapping DNFBP legal obligations, examining tensions between AML/CFT duties and professional ethics, assessing operational and environmental constraints on implementation, evaluating the role of self-regulatory bodies, and comparing regional and international good practices. The forum brought together around 50 participants largely from professional bodies across GABAC member and associate states, using thematic sessions, workshops and panels. GABAC expects the work to feed into a DNFBP awareness manual on good AML/CFT/PF compliance practices, and a communiqué was adopted to formalise participants’ commitment to implement the recommendations agreed during the forum.

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