Africa-Press – Angola. The United States expressed, this Tuesday, 2, its willingness to continue supporting Angola in strengthening the interagency coordination framework to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT).
The assurance was expressed by the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Angola, Noah Zaring, during the opening speech at the UNODC Workshop on Strengthening Angola’s Inter-Agency Coordination Framework to Combat AML/CFT, which began this Tuesday and ends tomorrow in Luanda.
According to the diplomat, money laundering and terrorist financing “are not only financial crimes, but also enablers of corruption, organized crime, and instability,” which undermine public trust, divert resources essential for development, and threaten national and international security.
Zaring stated that Angola has already taken important steps in this area, with the creation of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the adoption of international standards, and recent legislative reforms, emphasizing that the fight against these crimes “is a marathon, not a sprint.” The US representative also argued that the next step involves strengthening coordination between national institutions. “It’s not enough to simply share information; we need to act in a timely and coordinated manner, build trust among stakeholders, invest in capabilities, and leverage technology,” he emphasized.
The diplomat reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to continue supporting Angola, in partnership with the United Nations and the European Union, through technical assistance programs, training, and information-sharing initiatives. He also encouraged the country to maintain engagement with regional and international organizations, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the East and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG).
For Noah Zaring, by strengthening the regulatory framework, Angola will not only be combating financial crime but also creating conditions to attract foreign investment, promote economic growth, and improve the well-being of its citizens.
“Let us work together to build a future in which Angola’s financial system is a model of integrity, resilience, and transparency. The United States is with you in this effort,” he concluded.
Coordinated and innovative response
The coordinator of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Angola, Manuela Carneiro, stated that the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing requires a coordinated, innovative response based on regional cooperation, having highlighted
the need for experiences shared by experts from Kenya and Morocco in the process of training Angola.
On the other hand, the official stressed that the initiative represents “a strategic opportunity to strengthen inter-institutional coordination”, essential for the effective prevention, investigation and repression of these crimes.
Manuela Carneiro thanked the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for hosting the training and highlighted the crucial role played by the financial and institutional support of the United States Government, through its Embassy in Luanda, in holding the event.
“This collaboration between Angola, Kenya, and Morocco is more than symbolic: it concretely demonstrates the strength of regional cooperation in combating financial crime and the financing of terrorism,” he said.
According to the UNODC coordinator, the training goes beyond theory and focuses on analyzing real cases, sharing best practices, and critical reflection. The objective, she said, is to consolidate the practice of investigation and case processing in Angola, as well as to create networks of trust with foreign experts.
Carneiro also highlighted the crucial role of the FIU and the various national bodies involved, from financial supervisory authorities to judicial and criminal investigation bodies, arguing that “only through a true spirit of interinstitutional cooperation will it be possible to build more effective and resilient responses.”
For the official, the fight against economic crime also requires courage and commitment. “It is urgent to clearly state that money laundering, terrorist financing, and organized crime will have no place in our societies,” she emphasized.
Manuela Carneiro stated that UNODC will continue to support Angola through legislative, technical, and specialized training assistance, in line with international recommendations. “We work closely with judicial, law enforcement, financial, and civil society institutions to promote an environment of legality, transparency, and mutual trust,” she assured.
The workshop, held in Luanda, brings together representatives from several Angolan institutions, UNODC trainers, international experts, and cooperation partners, with the aim of strengthening the national response to transnational financial threats.
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