Côte d’Ivoire is moving closer to exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list” after making significant progress in strengthening its anti–money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework, according to officials and recent international assessments.

The country was placed under increased monitoring by the GAFI in October 2024, following commitments to address strategic deficiencies in its financial crime prevention system. Since then, authorities say Côte d’Ivoire has implemented a large portion of its agreed action plan within a notably short timeframe.

Officials describe the progress as “substantial,” highlighting strengthened regulatory oversight, improved financial intelligence coordination, and reinforced compliance mechanisms across key sectors.

However, despite the advances, Côte d’Ivoire remains formally on the FATF grey list pending a final on-site evaluation. This visit, conducted by FATF assessors, will verify the effective implementation of reforms on the ground before any decision on removal from the list is made.

According to the FATF process, a country is only delisted following a plenary decision after all technical and practical requirements have been fully met and validated. The on-site inspection is therefore a critical step rather than a procedural formality.

Côte d’Ivoire’s inclusion on the grey list came as part of broader efforts to strengthen safeguards against illicit financial flows and terrorism financing risks. Since then, the government has worked closely with regional and international partners, including West Africa’s Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA), to accelerate reforms.

Analysts note that Côte d’Ivoire’s progress is being closely watched in the region, as successful exit from the grey list could improve investor confidence and reduce compliance costs for financial transactions.

While no official date has been set for the final FATF decision, Côte d’Ivoire is now considered to be in the advanced stages of the process, with the outcome dependent on the upcoming on-site evaluation and subsequent plenary review.

If confirmed, the removal from the grey list would mark a significant milestone for the country’s financial governance and its efforts to align with global anti-money laundering standards.