Nigeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique have been officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list,” a global list of countries previously under increased monitoring for money laundering and terrorist financing concerns.
The FATF, an international body that sets standards for combating financial crimes, announced the decision after conducting successful on-site evaluations in the four nations. According to the group, each country has completed its required action plan within the agreed timeframe and demonstrated significant progress in strengthening their financial systems.
With this development, the countries will no longer face enhanced scrutiny from the FATF, a move expected to improve investor confidence and international financial relations.
The FATF, which monitors compliance among more than 200 member nations, reviews global efforts to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Its “black list” currently includes only three countries — Iran, Myanmar, and North Korea — considered high-risk jurisdictions.