The Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, commonly known as ESAAMLG, is an important regional partner of the Financial Intelligence Agency. ESAAMLG supports member countries in strengthening systems for anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing. It is recognised by the Financial Action Task Force as a FATF-Style Regional Body for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The FIA’s partnership with ESAAMLG supports Botswana’s commitment to meeting international standards for combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. Through ESAAMLG, Botswana participates in regional cooperation, mutual evaluations, technical discussions, training, typology studies, and follow-up processes that help improve national AML/CFT/CPF frameworks.

This partnership assists the FIA in aligning its work with regional and international best practice. It provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, peer learning, and coordinated responses to emerging financial crime risks. ESAAMLG also plays a key role in assessing member countries’ compliance with FATF Recommendations and supporting improvements where gaps are identified.

The relationship between the FIA and ESAAMLG strengthens Botswana’s ability to protect the integrity of its financial system. By participating in ESAAMLG activities, the FIA contributes to regional efforts to detect, prevent, and disrupt financial crime, while also benefiting from shared expertise across Eastern and Southern Africa.

As a regional partner, ESAAMLG is central to Botswana’s continued development of a strong, effective, and internationally aligned AML/CFT/CPF regime. The partnership reflects the importance of cooperation beyond national borders, especially where financial crime networks operate across jurisdictions.