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African countries have been urged to adopt targeted measures to protect legitimate non-profits from financing terrorism risks, as threats across the continent proliferate. Non-profit organisations have been warned against blanket restrictions that could disrupt vital humanitarian activities. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) says countries should focus on organisations assessed to have genuine risks while protecting legitimate humanitarian activities. The original language of Recommendation Eight said NPOs were particularly vulnerable to terrorism financing abuse, but one brush was then used to paint all NPOs across the world, according to Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Nigeria. The expansion of terrorism threats across Africa between 2015 and 2025 showed the need for stronger preventive measures, but warned against applying blanket restrictions to all non-profit organisations.

And when assessing risks, countries consider factors including location, funding sources, movement of funds, cross-border activities and the nature of services provided, says Ibezim-Ohaeri. Giving examples from across Africa, she said Ghana had identified organisations operating near borders affected by insecurity, while Nigeria's assessment reflected its size and complex security environment. Nigeria is a big country, like countries within a country. Nigeria has 250-something million people. Our list is higher than all other African countries put together because of factors such as organisations operating in the Northeast, those in high-risk areas, humanitarian groups, faith-based organisations and those using cash-based systems. The fight against money laundering and terrorism financing must be guided by evidence-based assessments that distinguish between organisations facing genuine risks and legitimate non-profit groups carrying out humanitarian, development and community-based activities. Countries should have focused, proportionate and risk-based measures without unduly disrupting and discouraging legitimate NPO activities. The language changed because there was evidence of disruption happening across jurisdictions, she noted.

And countries consider factors including location, funding sources, movement of funds, cross-border activities and the nature of services provided when assessing risks within the sector, says Ibezim-Ohaeri.

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Nigeria, spoke during a pre-masterclass for non-profit organisations held ahead of the 3rd Africa High-Level Civil Society Conference on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

The event, themed, “Implementing FATF Recommendation 8 Correctly: Practices, Lessons Learned and Opportunities for Reforms,” examined measures to protect legitimate non-profit organisations from terrorism financing risks while strengthening compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards across Africa. She raised concerns over increasing regulatory burdens on civil society organisations across Africa, warning that excessive compliance requirements could affect legitimate operations. There is no country in Africa that we found without at least five laws governing NGOs. The minimum number of regulators across Africa is two, and some countries have between two and seven regulators. Even banks do not have seven regulators, she said.

She urged non-profit organisations to engage with authorities during national risk assessments and support efforts to prevent terrorism financing abuse. NPOs do not become allies to terrorism, she said. And non-profits should focus on building trust with their communities and supporting efforts to prevent terrorism financing abuse.

In a statement, Ibezim-Ohaeri said that the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing must be guided by evidence-based assessments that distinguish between organisations facing genuine risks and legitimate non-profit groups carrying out humanitarian, development and community-based activities. She explained that countries should have focused, proportionate and risk-based measures without unduly disrupting and discouraging legitimate NPO activities. The language changed because there was evidence of disruption happening across jurisdictions, she noted.

Key Facts

  • The 2023 revision of FATF Recommendation Eight was aimed at ensuring countries focus on organisations assessed to have genuine risks while protecting legitimate humanitarian activities.
  • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) says countries should focus on organisations assessed to have genuine risks while protecting legitimate humanitarian activities.
  • The original language of Recommendation Eight said NPOs were particularly vulnerable to terrorism financing abuse, but one brush was then used to paint all NPOs across the world, according to Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri.
  • The expansion of terrorism threats across Africa between 2015 and 2025 showed the need for stronger preventive measures.
  • There is no country in Africa that we found without at least five laws governing NGOs.
  • The minimum number of regulators across Africa is two, and some countries have between two and seven regulators.
  • Even banks do not have seven regulators, she said.