The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) has concluded a four-day regional training on Asset Recovery and Illicit Financial Flows in Monrovia.
The training is being held under the theme: “Implementing CAPAR and Curbing Illicit Financial Flows: Finding the Owner.”
The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption is an autonomous organ of the African Union established to promote and encourage the adoption of measures and actions to prevent, detect and eradicate corruption on the continent.
The training, hosted in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), seeks to strengthen practical capacity in financial and cybercrime investigations, digital evidence, asset tracing, freezing and confiscation, mutual legal assistance, and the identification of ultimate beneficial owners.
Delivering the opening statement, LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe welcomed the AUABC delegation to Liberia, noting that corruption and its proceeds increasingly cross national borders and are concealed through complex financial and ownership structures.
She emphasized that illicit financial flows remain one of the most serious challenges to Africa’s development and require strengthened regional cooperation.
Madam Erica Tshenolo Ndlovu, Board Member of the AUABC, thanked the Government of Liberia and the LACC for hosting the training and for the warm welcome extended to the delegation.
German Ambassador to Liberia Carsten Hølscher highlighted Germany’s support through GIZ, providing technical expertise and resource persons to strengthen regional asset recovery efforts and the implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR).
Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge of the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia (FIA), Mohammed Ali Nasser, expressed keen interest in the regional training, describing it as timely for intelligence sharing and cross-border cooperation. He noted that the FIA will leverage the knowledge gained to strengthen its mandate.
Mr. Nasser said the training directly promotes the FIA’s activities as an intelligence agency in the fight against waste and abuse and financial crimes by enhancing its capacity to trace illicit assets, identify beneficial owners, and provide actionable financial intelligence to law enforcement and other competent authorities.
The opening ceremony brought together senior representatives from key Liberian institutions, including the Solicitor General, Chairman of the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce, Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority, and Officer-in-Charge of the Financial Intelligence Agency, among others.