Luanda: The United States called on Tuesday in Luanda for strengthened cooperation between countries, especially African ones, in the fight against flows of financing for terrorism. The position was defended by the advisor for Political and Economic Affairs of the United States Embassy in Angola and So Tom© and Principe, Jacob Doty, during a workshop on asset tracking and freezing for the application of specific financial sanctions in Luanda.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Doty acknowledged that the African continent is experiencing a moment of increasing attention from international investors, at a time when the international community faces security challenges that threaten growth. The diplomat highlighted the need to create strong institutions with tools to combat terrorism and criminal networks, such as the establishment of solid financial regulation systems in the formal and informal sectors. This includes the development of financial intelligence units capable of identifying illicit financing, analyzing suspicious transactions, and disseminating information.
As a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Doty stated that the United States works to combat the financing of terrorism domestically and supports other countries in strengthening their control mechanisms. He noted that the U.S. has already made available two million dollars to finance the fight against the financing of terrorism since 2019.
Promoted by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the course is funded by the U.S. Department of State. The training lasts three days and brings together technicians from Angola and Eswatini. Participants will strengthen practical capacities in the identification, tracking, and freezing of assets and financial resources subject to specific financial sanctions, in accordance with applicable international standards, while simultaneously promoting the exchange of experiences and strengthening inter-institutional and cross-border cooperation.
