Namibia Targets exit from FATF grey-list

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Namibia’s framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. The announcement was made at the commencement of a week-long National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop held in Windhoek from 2 to 6 March 2026.

The workshop is a critical component of Namibia’s strategy to enhance its Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism, and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) regime. A primary objective of the initiative is to support Namibia’s ongoing efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) "grey list" and to prepare for the upcoming Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group Mutual Evaluation.

FIC appreciative

The FIC expressed its appreciation to the EU for its technical assistance through the SecFin Africa project. This project is instrumental in providing Namibian authorities with the methodologies and expertise required to conduct a credible NRA. The assessment aims to help the public and private sectors proactively identify vulnerabilities and prioritise resources to design targeted security measures.

The collaborative approach involves a wide array of participants, including the Bank of Namibia, NAMFISA, the Office of the Prosecutor-General, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the Law Society of Namibia, among others. Speaking on behalf of FIC Director Dr Bryan Eiseb, Ms Zenobia Barry stated that the training would empower stakeholders to understand and actively participate in the assessment process. She noted that an NRA can only be truly national if it reflects the shared data and insights of all relevant institutions.

Ian Dupont, EU deputy head of mission, emphasised that combating financial crime requires coordinated action across government agencies, financial institutions, and international partners. He remarked that the success of the exercise would be measured by subsequent institutional reforms and operational outcomes rather than just the completion of a report.

About the SecFin Africa Project

The SecFin Africa project, "Securing a Robust AML/CFT Framework Against Illicit Financial Flows in Sub-Saharan Africa," is a flagship initiative implemented by Expertise France, CIVIPOL, GIZ, and FIIAPP. With financial and technical support from the EU, Germany, and France, the project addresses the challenges posed by illicit financial flows which threaten the economic stability and governance of the region.