Mozambique set to exit EU high-risk third-country list after FATF grey list removal

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Mozambique set to exit EU high-risk third-country list after FATF grey list removal

3:20 CAT | 29 Oct 2025

File photo: Lusa

The European Union (EU) today acknowledged Mozambique’s efforts over the past three years, which culminated in its removal from the international “Grey List” of countries vulnerable to money laundering, guaranteeing that the country would also be removed from the European list.

“Following Mozambique’s delisting by the FATF, the EU confirms that it has no additional requirements for the country’s removal from its own list of high-risk third countries. Once the necessary EU procedural steps are completed, Mozambique will also be removed from the EU list,” states a communiqué from the European Union delegation in Maputo, sent to Lusa.

The plenary session of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) proclaimed in Paris on October 24th that, three years after its inclusion, Mozambique would be removed from the international “grey list”, an official Mozambican source told Lusa.

“Confirmed. At 09:30 (08:30 in Lisbon) today, the FATF plenary, by unanimous vote of all organizations and countries, removed Mozambique from the grey list,” said the national coordinator for the removal of Mozambique from that list, Luís Abel Cezerilo, adding that the decision to remove the country was approved with the recommendation that it “work” on “improving risk mapping”.

In the same statement released today, the EU welcomes the FATF decision and “congratulates the Government of Mozambique for the significant efforts made to address the items of its FATF action plan, contributing to strengthening its anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT) framework”.

“As co-chair of Mozambique’s National Technical Assistance Coordination Committee, the EU commends all national institutions, organizations, and professionals who have worked hard over the past three years to achieve this important result,” the statement also said.

The European Union Ambassador to Mozambique, Antonino Maggiore, acknowledged that Mozambique’s efforts “demonstrate the country’s strong commitment” to “going beyond its FATF action plan and continuing to improve its AML/CFT/CPF system” in its fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, “leading by example in the region.”

“We look forward to continuing the fruitful cooperation with Mozambique on these matters, bringing forward the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing,” added Maggiore, quoted in the EU statement.

The EU states that it supports Mozambique’s efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing “through a combination of global, regional and bilateral programs,” including a project funded by Foreign Policy Instruments (FPIs) implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

This support has focused on the de-listing process, i.e., strengthening the national framework across several areas, including statistics, beneficial ownership, regulation of the real estate, casinos and gaming sectors, and capacity building for judges, prosecutors, and investigators, and financing of terrorism. The EU remains committed to supporting Mozambique’s continued progress in promoting transparency, accountability and integrity within its financial system,” the statement concludes.

Source: Lusa