Djibouti Concludes Two-Year Anti–Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Reform Review with International Partners

Hornpost staff Reporter December 15, 2025 No Comments

DJIBOUTI, (Hornpost) – Djibouti on Monday concluded a two-year review of intensive reforms aimed at strengthening the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), during a closing workshop held at the Kempinski Hotel, attended by senior government officials and international partners.

The event brought together the Minister of the Interior, Said Nouh Hassan; the President of the Supreme Court and National Coordinator for Combating Terrorism, Djama Souleiman Ali; the Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, Ahmed Osman Ali; and the French Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Jérôme Bresson. Representatives of technical and financial partners, including the French Development Agency (AFD), were also in attendance.

In his remarks, Ambassador Bresson commended Djibouti’s “strong ambitions” in combating illicit financial flows, noting that their success depends on the country’s ability to provide a secure and exemplary environment for partners by minimizing the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing.

Central Bank Governor Ahmed Osman Ali highlighted the role of the FEXTE mechanism, describing it as a “successful model of cooperation and teamwork.” He thanked AFD and the French authorities for their swift and effective support, and praised the experts involved throughout the two-year reform process. He reiterated that financial sector development remains central to the country’s growth strategy and reaffirmed Djibouti’s commitment to aligning its AML/CFT framework with Financial Action Task Force (FATF/GAFI) standards.

Supreme Court President Djama Souleiman Ali reflected on the demanding mutual evaluation conducted under the auspices of GAFIMOAN, emphasizing that the national coordination mechanism established by presidential decree in August 2023 was designed to create a sustainable methodology rather than meet a single deadline. He said Djibouti had successfully mobilized institutions, implemented reforms, and enhanced capacity, producing “concrete, traceable, and demonstrable” results.

Interior Minister Said Nouh Hassan cited major achievements over the two-year period, including strengthened legal and institutional frameworks, the development of a national risk assessment, and improved operational capacity across relevant institutions. He described these advances as the foundation of a national strategy aimed at excellence and praised the level of inter-agency coordination.

Authorities said the progress achieved since the mutual evaluation reflects a steadily upward trajectory and enhanced ability to maintain vigilance against illicit financial flows.

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