… A former senior counter-terrorism official has warned that the country risks being placed back on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, or possibly facing the harsher black list, as international assessors prepare to review its anti-money laundering measures. …
… He said the assessment would be updated annually and adjusted whenever necessary to ensure alignment with evolving technologies, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines and emerging threats. …
… He said the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation in 2027 should not be viewed as an event, but as a test of whether controls were properly designed, implemented, effective and sustainable. …
… Casinos and online betting platforms are recognized by international bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as high-risk sectors for money laundering, given the volume of transactions and the potential for layering illicit funds through bets and payouts. …
… Mr Ramaotwana said Botswana was currently preparing for the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group third round of the mutual evaluation, which would assess the country’s compliance to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and its effectiveness of the anti …
… thin the national payments systems.The regulations align the regulatory framework with the re‐enacted Financial Intelligence Act, 2022 and the related subsidiary legislation and the Bank of Botswana (Amendment) Act, 2022, while also addressing relevant Financial Action Task Force …
… The proposed legislation, he said, was intended to establish a comprehensive legal framework for implementing UN sanctions and strengthening Botswana’s compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations on terrorism and proliferation financing. …
A former counter-terrorism official has warned that Botswana risks being placed back on the Financial Action Task Force grey list or facing the black list as international assessors prepare to review its anti-money laundering measures ahead of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group's third-round mutual evaluation. The assessment will test whether the country's institutions are truly delivering results and focus on effectiveness, following Botswana's removal from the grey list in October 2021.
A former counter-terrorism official has warned that Botswana risks being placed back on the Financial Action Task Force grey list or facing the black list as international assessors prepare to review its anti-money laundering measures ahead of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group's third-round mutual evaluation. The assessment will test whether the country's institutions are truly delivering results and focus on effectiveness, following Botswana's removal from the grey list in October 2021.
A Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship warned that the absence of evidence of terrorism financing or proliferation financing does not mean these risks do not exist, speaking at the launch of a Sectoral Risk Assessment Report for Development Finance Institutions by the Financial Intelligence Agency. He called for vigilance, collaboration and accountability, noting that development finance institutions' high-volume lending and financing of legal persons could obscure beneficial ownership and increase susceptibility to misuse.
Development Finance Institutions have been urged to strengthen their anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing controls as Botswana prepares for a critical mutual evaluation of its financial crime controls. A Sectoral Risk Assessment Report for DFIs launched by the Financial Intelligence Agency emphasized that risk management must involve boards, executives, credit teams, and frontline staff, not just compliance officers.
Botswana's gambling sector is expected to reach over one billion Pula in revenue by March 2026, driven by licensed operators and online engagement, but an estimated $63 million annually is spent on illegal and offshore betting platforms, creating challenges for financial integrity and money laundering control.
Justice Minister Nelson Ramaotwana presented the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Amendment Bill 2026 in Parliament to address deficiencies in the current Act and ensure full compliance with international obligations, particularly Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards ahead of a mutual evaluation by the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group.
Botswana's progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering framework is threatened by conflicting statements from top officials regarding the P100 billion saga.
The central bank introduced amendments to electronic money and money transfer service regulations effective April 2, aligning the framework with re-enacted financial crime legislation and international standards. Key changes include clearer licensing requirements, increased penalties for unlicensed operation, and permission for licensees to pay interest on customer electronic money balances to support product innovation.
Botswana is seeking to host the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group's Regional Training Academy in Gaborone, positioning itself as a regional leader in combating financial crime. Through the Institute for Combating Illicit Flow of Funds, the academy would serve as a centre of excellence for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing training across the region.
Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe said Botswana must reset its financial integrity systems to address weaknesses in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks that threaten the country's global financial reputation. He warned that Botswana's historically strong governance record had weakened through gradual erosion of standards, citing international assessments showing regulatory gaps.