These eight African countries flagged for money laundering risk
· The South African
There are currently eight African countries on the European Union’s (EU) register of high-risk jurisdictions for weak controls against money laundering and terrorism financing.
EU banks and other regulated entities must apply enhanced customer due diligence when dealing with individuals or businesses in these jurisdictions.
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The EU list is updated separately, but it is closely linked to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assessments and grey-list decisions, which it relies on heavily.
The EU began flagging countries and adding them to this list in 2016. South Africa was on the list until January of this year.
1. Algeria
Algeria was added to the EU list in June 2025 after being placed under increased FATF monitoring in October 2024 and committing to an action plan to address identified deficiencies.
There has been progress. FATF’s own information on the matter says that the country “strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime to meet the commitments in its action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in October 2024.”
In June 2026, the FATF confirmed it had completed its plan and dropped the country from the grey list. The EU has yet to update its own list, so Algeria stays on the EU register until it does.
2. Angola
Angola joined the EU list in June 2025, after it made its own promise to the FATF in October 2024. The FATF wants Angola to build a clearer picture of its money-laundering risks and to bring more cases to court.
Angola Flag. Source: Wikimedia Commons.Angola also needs to open up records of who owns companies and to freeze terrorist funds. The FATF has seen high-level political commitment to tackle the issues, but still requires more work.
3. Cameroon
Cameroon has been on the EU list from an earlier review in 2023. Like Angola, there have been high-level political commitments to enact the suggestions made by the FATF.
Cameroon also needs to seize criminal money, in particular at its borders. The FATF noted progress in 2026, though it warned that the deadlines had passed and work remained.
4. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Côte d’Ivoire joined the EU list in June 2025 after the FATF grey-listed the country in October 2024 and it committed to an action plan.
It has improved its monitoring and its use of financial intelligence since then, with the FATF noting that the country “has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site assessment to verify that the implementation of AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future.”
The main gap that remains is the number of money-laundering cases it takes to court. The FATF wants that number to rise in line with the country’s risks.
5. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The DRC has featured on the EU list from an earlier review, after it committed to the FATF in October 2022. It has built supervision plans and shown that it can investigate money laundering.
Democratic Republic of the Congo flag. Source: Wikimedia Commons.Two gaps remain: the DRC needs to put its plan into practice and to investigate terrorist financing in line with its risks.
6. Kenya
Kenya entered the EU register in June 2025 following its February 2024 FATF grey-listing and the adoption of an agreed reform plan. It has strengthened its supervisors and brought in rules for crypto-asset firms since then.
The FATF still wants better monitoring of banks and businesses and clearer records of who owns companies and trusts. It also wants more suspicious transactions reported and more cases taken to court.
7. Namibia
Namibia joined the EU list in June 2025, after it committed to the FATF in February 2024. The FATF had flagged weak monitoring and thin records of who owns companies.
But now, according to the FATF, “Namibia strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime to meet the commitments in its action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in February 2024.”
The FATF dropped Namibia from the grey list in June 2026 after it completed its plan. Like Algeria, it stays on the EU register until list updates occur.
8. South Sudan
South Sudan has been on the EU list from an earlier review, after it committed to the FATF in 2021. That makes it the longest-standing case among the eight countries here, despite being the youngest country on the list.
The FATF found limited progress in 2026. South Sudan still needs a working, independent financial intelligence unit, and better records of who owns companies.