In brief
In Kampala, Ugandan officials and African financial intelligence units convened for the Africa Financial Intelligence Summit 2026, aiming to curb illicit financial flows amplified by digital technologies. Minister Henry Musasizi urged real‑time collaboration, cyber resilience, and advanced analytics, while delegates from 36 nations discussed coordinated strategies and emerging digital asset regulation. The summit will conclude with a joint declaration to enhance continental financial sovereignty.
On Monday, Kampala, Uganda, became the focal point of a continent‑wide initiative as more than 150 representatives from 36 African nations gathered for a five‑day meeting at the Africa Financial Intelligence Summit 2026, organized by Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Summit agenda emphasizes technology and international cooperation
The event, which is scheduled to run through Friday, draws a mix of financial intelligence units, law‑enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, forensic investigators, and international partners, all aiming to lock in strategies that halt the growing threat of illicit financial flows driven by digital technologies and obscure cross‑border criminal networks.
The summit’s theme, “Securing Africa’s Financial Future: Intelligence, Innovation and Integrated Enforcement in an Era of Borderless Financial Crime,” underscores the need for real‑time cooperation among intelligence units, a push that Minister Henry Musasizi highlighted as vital because financial crime crosses national boundaries with “speed, scale and sophistication” that match the rapid expansion of digital finance, financial technology, virtual assets and cross‑border transactions.
Minister Henry Musasizi told the assembly:
Let this Summit strengthen our institutions, sharpen our intelligence, deepen our cooperation and ensure that Africa’s financial systems increasingly work for Africa’s development.
Musasizi also urged the delegation to focus on robust technological and cyber resilience. He stressed incorporating advanced capabilities in artificial intelligence, blockchain analytics, and cyber and digital forensics to trace, freeze, seize and recover illicit proceeds, a strategic move he said would directly benefit African economies and citizens.
Representatives from nations including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana and Mozambique in the 36‑country lineup also brought evidence of the scale of illicit flows and the need for coordinated cross‑border responses. The summit’s five‑day schedule is structured to encourage both plenary discussions and smaller, joint‑task‑force meetings, with the goal of developing a set of best practices that can be adopted nationwide.
According to the organizers, the summit’s outcomes will feed into a broader continental framework, aligning with the African Union’s anti‑money‑laundering agenda and the Bank of Africa’s standards. They anticipate that the enhanced cooperation will not only curb illicit finance but also protect the integrity of Africa’s public finances, creating a safer, more resilient environment for investment and development.
Delegates also examined the role of emerging digital assets and the obstacles they pose to traditional regulatory frameworks. The summit highlighted the importance of cooperation with fintech firms and cryptocurrency exchanges to ensure compliance, and to establish mechanisms for monitoring and addressing illicit activity within virtual asset ecosystems.
The summit, which is co‑hosted by the World Bank Group’s Global Financial Integrity Project and the African Development Bank, will conclude with a joint declaration, as well as a memorandum of understanding among participating countries for sustained intelligence sharing. Participants expressed optimism that the collaborative spirit fostered in Kampala will pave the way for future initiatives to further strengthen continental financial sovereignty.