Luanda: Angola is stepping up efforts to strengthen its financial monitoring systems to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, the deputy head of its Financial Information Unit (UIF) said on Tuesday. Speaking at the opening of a workshop on asset tracing, freezing, and targeted financial sanctions organized by the UIF in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Santos stated that the initiative aims to safeguard financial system integrity, transparency, and sustainable economic development.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the official added that Angola is actively working to build technical capacity across domestic institutions through strategic international partnerships and specialized technical assistance. UNODC Country Coordinator Manuela Carneiro noted that targeted financial sanctions against terrorism align with Recommendation 6 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). She emphasized that nations are obligated to freeze terrorist funds and assets immediately to prevent their direct or indirect use.
Carneiro called on both public and private sector entities to maintain heightened vigilance, citing the complex operational models of illicit networks that frequently exploit shell companies, intermediaries, informal fund transfer networks, and digital platforms. The three-day training program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, gathers specialists from Angola and Eswatini to enhance operational capabilities in tracking and freezing sanctioned assets in compliance with global standards, while boosting cross-border intelligence sharing.
