The 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa is underway in Cape Town, with a key focus on establishing an international anti-corruption court and improving cross-border collaboration to combat corruption.
Delegates from across Africa are sharing strategies to tackle illicit financial flows, estimated to cost the continent $50 billion annually. Advocate Andy Mothibi, head of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU), highlighted efforts to recover stolen assets and enhance cooperation among nations.
Key Discussions:
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Asset recovery and extradition: Countries like Malawi have pledged support in extraditing high-profile fugitives, including Shepherd Bushiri.
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Technology and AI: The UK presented AI-driven tools to detect fraud, with the SIU set to pilot new data analytics models.
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State capture fallout: Advocate Mothibi confirmed R12 billion has been recovered in South Africa but acknowledged the need for faster action on prosecutions.
The conference also saw the launch of the SIU Anti-Corruption and Cyber Academy, aimed at training investigators in cybercrime prevention.
With corruption draining vital resources, African leaders are pushing for stronger legal frameworks and faster enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.
