BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini has intensified its fight against financial crime by submitting a request for the re-rating of 15 recommendations from its 2022 Mutual Evaluation Report at the 50th ESAAMLG (Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group) Task Force Meeting of Senior Officials, currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The country’s delegation is being led by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Vusie Dlamini. The evaluation report previously identified gaps in Eswatini’s technical compliance with the global standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the government is now seeking to demonstrate progress in addressing those shortcomings.
Eswatini’s team includes some of the nation’s top financial and legal authorities, reflecting the importance attached to this review process. Among the delegates are the Attorney General, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Director General of the Eswatini Financial Intelligence Centre, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Financial Inclusion, as well as Honourable Members of the Finance Portfolio Committee from both Parliament and Senate. Senior officials from several government institutions tasked with combating money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism are also part of the mission.
The Principal Secretary emphasised that Eswatini’s efforts are aimed not only at improving its technical ratings but also at strengthening the integrity of the country’s financial system. “We are committed to aligning with international best practices to protect Eswatini’s economy, attract investment, and ensure that our financial sector is not exploited by criminals or terrorist financiers,” he said.
The Honourable Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg is expected to join the delegation later this week to attend the ESAAMLG Council of Ministers Plenary Meeting, where he will represent Eswatini at the highest level of the regional forum. His participation is expected to underscore the government’s political will to implement robust reforms and secure greater confidence from both regional partners and the global financial community.
The ESAAMLG meeting, which brings together senior officials and ministers from across Eastern and Southern Africa, provides a platform for member states to assess progress, share experiences, and reinforce collective measures against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Eswatini’s proactive stance at this summit reflects the country’s broader commitment to financial transparency, regional cooperation, and sustainable economic stability.
(Courtesy Pics)
