A high-level delegation from the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) conducted an official mission to Mauritius on 14 and 15 July 2025.
The ESAAMLG is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 21 countries from Eastern and Southern Africa. It works to strengthen the legislative, institutional, and operational frameworks of its members in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, in line with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
This visit forms part of Mauritius’s preparations for its Third Mutual Evaluation, scheduled for 2027. Its aim is to consolidate the country’s strategic commitment and avoid placement on the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) watchlist – the body responsible for monitoring jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in implementing effective AML/CFT measures.
The delegation, led by Ms Fikile P. Zitha, Executive Secretary of ESAAMLG, also included Mr Muluken Yirga Dubale, Senior Legal Expert, and Ms Elebopile Moremi, Legal Expert.
The mission’s agenda was particularly intense, featuring several high-level meetings with members of government, including the Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, Dr the Hon. Jyoti Jeetun, and the Minister of State for Finance, Hon. Dhaneswar Damry. The delegation also held discussions with key public institutions such as the Bank of Mauritius, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Financial Services Commission, the Gambling Regulatory Authority, the Registrar of Companies, the Registrar of Cooperatives, the Registrar of Associations, the WAQF Board, the Real Estate Agent Authority, the Assay Office, and the Attorney General’s Office.
Further engagements took place with the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants, representatives from the banking sector, legal, accounting, and real estate professionals, as well as civil society organisations, including NGOs, and senior officials from the Ministry of Financial Services and Economic Planning.
Following these discussions, the ESAAMLG delegation praised Mauritius’s strong mobilisation, the robustness of its institutional framework, and the reforms already undertaken to strengthen its national anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and anti-proliferation regime.
Minister Dr Jyoti Jeetun highlighted the strategic importance of this evaluation for the future of Mauritius’s financial centre:
“As the leading pillar of our economy, the financial services sector is central to our economic transformation. On 10 June, we launched our Strategy Report 2025–2030, an ambitious roadmap to accelerate sector growth, diversify our offerings, and strengthen our regional and global positioning.
The integrity of our financial system and compliance with international standards are foundational to building trust and preserving our reputation in an increasingly competitive environment.
That is why we are mobilising all our resources to make the 2027 evaluation a strategic lever to further reinforce the strength and credibility of our financial centre.”
Ms Fikile P. Zitha added:
“Given the level of political commitment observed, I am confident that Mauritius will achieve a strong rating and establish itself as a regional power and benchmark for other financial centres in terms of compliance.”
This mission is part of a broader ongoing process. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Financial Services and Economic Planning finalised its Second National Risk Assessment (NRA) covering the period 2018–2024. As previously emphasised by the Minister, it serves as an essential tool for safeguarding the integrity and stability of Mauritius’s financial system and institutions.
