FATF adds Nigeria, South Africa to dirty money grey list

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Africa’s two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa, have been included in the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) money laundering grey list, claiming both have much to do to meet global standards.

FATF’s grey list comprises countries under increased monitoring by the Paris-based organization. Being added to the list can impact a country’s global financial reputation and, in the long term, can reduce its chance of obtaining funding from development institutions.

In its response, South Africa’s Reserve Bank (SARB) said that it has greatly enhanced its anti-money laundering crackdown. The bank claims to have engaged in a substantial effort, together with the National Treasury, to “address the recommended actions contained in the FATF Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) of South Africa, within the 12-month observation period.”

Under enhanced financial scrutiny, the central bank pledged to strengthen its supervision and enhance “the dissuasiveness and proportionality of administrative sanctions issued.”

“We see limited market and growth impacts short run, but this will grow over time if foreign banks think SA (South Africa) will be stuck on the list,” commented Peter Attard.

Attard, who is the managing director at research firm Intellidex, described the move as “deeply unfortunate” but “ultimately avoidable.”

“It would be wishful thinking to think South Africa is off the list within a year unless there is now a proper step up in efforts to turn the situation around.”

Nigeria’s inclusion in the grey list comes at a time when the country is struggling under the weight of severe cash shortage and one of its most fiercely contested elections.

As CoinGeek reported, Africa’s largest economy recently redesigned its 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes. In its bid to exchange the old paper notes for new ones, the Central Bank of Nigeria has sunk the country into a cash shortage that has almost ground its economy to a halt.

Nigeria’s government didn’t immediately respond to the inclusion in the grey list, even as Nigerians took to the polls on February 25.

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