Since 2022, CiFAR has been supporting civil society organizations across Africa to champion a new initiative under the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR). The continent-wide CAPAR CSO network is driving transformative efforts to recover stolen assets, strengthen good governance, and ensure transparency in Africa, grounded in CAPAR's four key pillars: (1) detection and identification of stolen assets, (2) recovery and return of assets, (3) management of recovered assets, and (4) strengthening cooperation and partnerships.
2024 has seen an acceleration of targeted anti-corruption listings, with 32 new individuals being sanctioned, proving once again the use of targeted sanctions as a powerful diplomatic and anti-corruption tool. As CiFAR launches its updated Sanctions Watch platform today, which tracks individuals sanctioned for reasons related to corruption, this blog takes stock of the changed listings across key anti-corruption sanctions regimes in 2024.
As we step into 2025, the landscape of asset recovery is at a critical juncture. With heightened global attention on corruption and financial crime, there is a growing call for more robust mechanisms to recover stolen assets and ensure they benefit the communities from which they were taken. Here, we outline key expectations and aspirations for the field of asset recovery this year.
This week, we are holding our second Global Civil Society Forum on Asset Recovery. Having kicked off the series in Kenya in 2022, this second edition is taking place in Brazil and aims to bring together civil society organisations from across the globe to discuss the most pressing issues, challenges and opportunities in asset recovery and to identify opportunities for collective action.
Kenya has made significant strides in combating economic crime, particularly in asset recovery through institutions like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), supported by other law enforcement agencies. These efforts are anchored in legal frameworks such as the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA),2003 and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA),2009 as well as regulations like the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Criminal Assets Recovery Fund) Regulations, 2023.
Equatorial Guinea, while rich in natural resources, is plagued by the corruption and embezzling of its national treasury by the Obiang family. In France, the Biens mal acquis (Ill-gotten gains) case was a first of its kind proceedings, with legal action brought against a current, high ranking official, and which saw the confiscation and seizure of amassed luxury assets from the Equatoguinean Vice President. The case began due to the efforts of anti-corruption organisations, Transparency International France and Sherpa, who accused Obiang of embezzling state funds to buy luxury assets in France.
Last month, the Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) handed over proceeds from corruption recoveries, including 511.4 million shillings (USD 3.96 million) in cash and 35 title deeds for 18.71 acres valued at 5.5 billion shillings (USD 42.7 billion). This action highlights the agency’s focus on asset recovery as part of its anti-corruption efforts. These assets, particularly land, have been repurposed for social use in several instances, demonstrating progress in social reuse. However, important questions arise regarding the use of recovered funds, their oversight, and the beneficiaries.
In September and October 2024, CiFAR is running an Asset Recovery Workshop Programme (online) designed to support civil society in Angola and Mozambique, in cooperation with local partners: Fórum de Monitoria do Orçamento, Centro de Integridade Pública, Associação OMUNGA, Pro Bono Angola, Associação Mãos Livres e UYELE, Associação Cívica.
Mãos Livres, Omunga, Pro Bono Angola and Uyele, Angolan civil society organisations currently working with CiFAR under the ongoing Capacity Support Framework, have written an open letter to the Attorneys General of Angola and Portugal demanding clarity about the asset recovery processes related to Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of former president José Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled Angola for 38 years (1979-2017).
The first half of 2024 saw nine new individuals fall under various sanction systems for corrupt acts. With this latest update to the Sanctions Watch website, we are highlighting some particularly notorious cases.
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