Published: June 29, 2026
MONROVIA — The Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARINWA) has concluded a high-level working visit to Liberia, engaging key government institutions on strengthening the country’s asset recovery regime, enhancing compliance with international anti-money laundering standards, and advancing preparations for the Third Round Mutual Evaluation under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework.
The multi-day mission centered on improving Liberia’s legal and institutional capacity to trace, seize, confiscate, manage, and recover proceeds of crime while reinforcing inter-agency cooperation in combating financial crimes.
The regional delegation began its mission with consultations at the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General, where discussions focused on ARINWA’s mandate and the importance of establishing a comprehensive legislative framework governing the seizure, confiscation, and management of criminal assets.
The parties also examined proposals for creating a dedicated national asset management agency, emphasizing its role in preserving confiscated assets and strengthening the country’s prosecution of financial crimes.
Officials further reviewed Liberia’s compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards ahead of the country’s upcoming Third Round Mutual Evaluation, while the Ministry of Justice designated a focal point to coordinate future engagements with the regional network.
At the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, discussions shifted to the economic value of effective asset recovery systems and the institutional arrangements needed to sustain them.
The meeting addressed funding mechanisms and operational autonomy for the proposed asset management agency, Liberia’s compliance with FATF requirements, and the country’s financial contribution to supporting ARINWA’s regional activities.
Participants underscored that recovering criminal assets not only strengthens the rule of law but also returns stolen resources to the state for national development.
ARINWA also met with prosecuting authorities, including senior magistrates, stressing the importance of identifying and freezing criminal assets at the earliest stages of investigations.
The delegation highlighted international best practices on cross-border cooperation, noting that early asset tracing and seizure significantly improve the chances of recovering proceeds generated through corruption, money laundering, organized crime, and other financial offenses.
The mission concluded with a roundtable involving ARINWA contact points from Liberia’s Central Authority for Judicial Cooperation, criminal investigation and prosecution agencies, and the Financial Intelligence Agency.
The meeting focused on developing a post-mission roadmap for establishing Liberia’s proposed asset management agency and strengthening institutional coordination on asset recovery.
The engagements ended with a progress briefing during which government officials reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to strengthening its asset recovery framework and implementing reforms that align with regional and international standards.
The visit forms part of broader regional efforts to enhance cooperation among West African countries in tracing, freezing, confiscating, and recovering illicit assets while improving compliance with global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations.
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