In brief
In Kampala, Uganda, African financial experts began a five‑day summit on Monday to tackle illicit financial flows growing with digital tech and complex systems. Uganda’s finance minister urged real‑time cooperation among countries, enhanced cyber resilience, and advanced analytics to trace, freeze, seize, and recover stolen funds. The summit aims to strengthen institutions and make Africa’s financial system work for African development.
African financial experts started a five‑day summit in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on Monday to fight the growing problem of illicit money flows that use digital technology and complex financial networks.
The Africa Financial Intelligence Summit 2026 gathered delegates from 36 countries under the theme “Securing Africa’s Financial Future: Intelligence, Innovation and Integrated Enforcement in an Era of Borderless Financial Crime.”
Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi said Africa was at a defining moment as financial crime grew in scale, speed, and sophistication. He called on African nations to strengthen real‑time cooperation among financial intelligence units, noting that crime crosses national borders.
Musasizi emphasized the need to boost technological and cyber resilience, adding that advanced work in artificial intelligence, blockchain analytics, and digital forensics would help trace, freeze, seize and recover illicit proceeds. “Let this Summit strengthen our institutions, sharpen our intelligence, deepen our cooperation and ensure that Africa’s financial systems increasingly work for Africa’s development,” he said.
The summit also brings together representatives from law‑enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, forensic investigators and international partners to share best practices and coordinate enforcement actions.
Officials say the summit’s goal is to make sure stolen money is traced, frozen, seized and returned to benefit African economies and their citizens.
