Africa-Press – Mauritius. The upcoming Mutual Evaluation by the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) scheduled for 2027 is fast approaching, putting pressure on several jurisdictions, including Mauritius, to prove the effectiveness of their anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) measures. Specializing in financial compliance, the Abler Group organized a masterclass bringing together experts and regulators to prepare for this important event.
The 2027 ESAAMLG evaluation is more than just an administrative milestone; it is a credibility test for the region’s financial jurisdictions. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and regional bodies now demand concrete evidence of effectiveness, not just well-crafted laws. Shahannah Abdoolakhan, CEO of the Abler Group, emphasized this shift: “The world is watching Mauritius. Not in 2027, but today. And the question is: will we lead, or will we follow?” She highlighted that compliance should be seen as a driver of trust, growth, and opportunity, rather than a burden.
John Cusack, Senior Advisor at Oliver Wyman and former Chair of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime, was the keynote speaker. With over 30 years of experience heading compliance at UBS and Standard Chartered, he warned against a generic compliance approach. “Yes, Mauritius must be compliant with FATF recommendations, but it needs a specific Mauritius plan.” He stressed that drug trafficking, identified by the 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA) as a major risk, requires urgent and targeted action to understand the nature of illicit flows and implement an appropriate strategy.
Cusack also outlined new FATF priorities for the fifth evaluation cycle, emphasizing the importance of high-quality NRAs and the evaluation of corruption as a systemic threat. Supervision must be risk-based rather than strictly rule-bound, and technology along with strong public-private partnerships will be essential to detect emerging threats like digital fraud and scams. Effectiveness will be judged by tangible results such as investigations, convictions, asset seizures, and cases of professional money laundering.
Mauritius has set an ambitious 2030 vision to strengthen its international financial center, with credibility hinging on a demonstrably robust AML/CFT framework. John Cusack remarked that the government’s renewed focus on anti-corruption efforts is positive if impartial. Economic Development Board CEO Mahen Kundasamy defended the national strategy, highlighting Mauritius’ long-standing commitment to organizations like OECD, EU, and FATF, and its implementation of the 40 FATF recommendations.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Act 2024 and the new national AML/CFT Strategy align with the 2025 NRA’s eight priorities. The plan is further supported by a roadmap announced in the 2025-2026 budget, including specialized training programs to enhance professional skills.
A close partnership between public and private sectors is crucial. Shahannah Abdoolakhan stressed, “Effectiveness is not measured on paper. It is proven in practice — through regulators, government, and industry working side by side.” She urged Mauritius to adopt models like the UAE’s, where public and private sectors collaborate at the same table to tackle challenges jointly. Both she and John Cusack agreed that starting preparations now is essential because effectiveness in compliance cannot be achieved overnight.
The ESAAMLG 2027 evaluation will be a stringent test but also an opportunity for Mauritius to reinforce resilience and strengthen its financial center’s reputation. Speakers emphasized that the deadline is a chance for Mauritius to become a regional compliance model, ready not just for 2027 but for the coming decade.
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