GIABA opens new Abidjan hub to boost West Africa’s fight against financial crime

Ivorian finance minister inaugurates advanced GIABA information center in Cocody

The Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget, Adama Coulibaly, today presided over the official handover of new premises for the GIABA Information Center in Cocody. This state-of-the-art facility, provided by the Ivorian government under the terms of the Headquarters Agreement, marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation against financial crime.

The initiative traces its origins to a November 2010 decision by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers during its 65th ordinary session in Abuja. This landmark move established two specialized centers: one in Lagos for Anglophone countries and another in Abidjan serving francophone and Lusophone states within the community.

The center’s evolution since its 2015 launch

The Abidjan center opened its doors in September 2015 following the March 2014 Headquarters Agreement signed in Yamoussoukro, coinciding with the 44th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit.

During the inauguration ceremony, Minister Coulibaly emphasized the growing sophistication of money laundering and terrorist financing mechanisms, which now exploit increasingly complex networks and innovative funding methods. He stressed that financial crime represents a transnational challenge requiring coordinated regional responses, as no single nation can effectively address these threats alone.

« This new infrastructure must serve as a regional hub for awareness-raising, capacity building, research, documentation and communication to support ECOWAS member states,» Coulibaly stated. He expressed hope that the center would become an exemplary tool in the fight against illicit financial flows and terrorism financing.

GIABA’s outgoing director highlights center’s achievements

GIABA Director General Edwin W. Harris Jr. reflected on the center’s impact since its establishment, noting its role in mobilizing Ivorian and West African stakeholders. The facility has hosted public awareness campaigns targeting youth, academic conferences, regional public speaking competitions and specialized training seminars for media professionals, religious leaders and civil society organizations.

Under Harris’s leadership, the center has also contributed significantly to mutual evaluation processes by building institutional capacities across participating states. The new premises represent a strategic investment for francophone and Lusophone ECOWAS members, positioning the center as a regional hub for knowledge sharing, innovation and cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/FT).

Expanding access through digital and youth engagement

The upgraded facility introduces a groundbreaking Computer-Based Training (CBT) center, offering tailored modules for different user profiles. These specialized programs will benefit law enforcement, financial institutions, regulated professions, magistrates, investigative services, academics and students involved in the prevention and repression of financial crime.

The training modules, designed to meet specific needs, will be certified upon completion, enhancing regional expertise and professionalizing the fight against illicit financial flows. Particular emphasis will be placed on engaging students, young researchers and emerging professionals to cultivate a new generation committed to integrity, good governance and sustainable economic development in West Africa.

The timing of the inauguration holds special significance as Harris prepares to conclude his mandate as GIABA Director General on August 31, 2026. The establishment of these permanent facilities just days before this transition underscores a commitment to providing ECOWAS member states and stakeholders with a durable tool for strengthening cooperation, information sharing and skills development in the ongoing battle against financial crime.