The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) has begun a four-day regional training program in Liberia aimed at enhancing efforts to recover stolen assets and combat illicit financial flows across Africa.
Held under the theme, “Implementing CAPAR and Curbing Illicit Financial Flows: Finding the Owner,” the training is being organized in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
The initiative seeks to build the practical capacity of anti-corruption practitioners in financial and cybercrime investigations, digital evidence management, asset tracing, freezing and confiscation of illicit proceeds, mutual legal assistance, and the identification of ultimate beneficial owners.
The AUABC, an autonomous organ of the African Union, was established to promote measures aimed at preventing, detecting, and eradicating corruption across the continent.
Opening the training, LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe welcomed the AUABC delegation to Liberia and underscored the growing complexity of corruption-related crimes. She noted that illicit proceeds increasingly move across borders and are often concealed through sophisticated financial transactions and ownership structures.
Cllr. Zoe described illicit financial flows as a major obstacle to Africa’s development and stressed the need for stronger regional collaboration to effectively tackle the challenge.
Speaking on behalf of the AUABC, Board Member Erica Tshenolo Ndlovu expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia and the LACC for hosting the event and for the hospitality extended to participants.
Meanwhile, German Ambassador to Liberia Carsten Hølscher reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption efforts through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which is providing technical expertise and resource persons to strengthen regional asset recovery initiatives and support the implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR).
