_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Narcotics Report 2011 (introduction):
No report available
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Special Case)
In the months prior to the October 31, 2010 presidential election, the
Government of Cote d’Ivoire made fair anti-trafficking progress.
However, prospects for additional progress were extinguished by the
political stalemate and civil war following the November runoff as
incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to the
internationally-recognized winner, Alassane Ouattara. During the four-
month period that, critically, came at the end of the reporting period –
months slated for implementation of the newly-passed child trafficking
law – there was no national governing structure that could assume
responsibility for addressing the country’s human trafficking problem.
Police were militarized, courts were non-functional, and prisoners were
freed from jail. Basic public services were not available, including social
services necessary to address the needs of victims. Government
ministries were minimally staffed and effectively shut down due to a lack
of funding for salaries. The country descended into a period of
sustained violence that damaged the national infrastructure necessary
to address the trafficking problem. During this period, Ouattara’s
legitimate, elected regime lacked control over government ministries and
functions and the ability to engage in serious and sustained efforts to
combat trafficking.
The following summary covers the anti-trafficking efforts of the Gbagbo
government until the October 31, 2010 presidential election. The
government failed to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders or take
steps to identify trafficking victims among women and girls in prostitution.
Although it referred some child victims to NGOs for care, the government
did not provide services to adult victims, and it abandoned a plan to
build two shelters for trafficking victims. Though the government
acknowledged that certain forms of trafficking are a problem in the
country, such as forced child labor, it did not recognize other forms,
such as the forced prostitution of adults, and has never reported a
prosecution of forced labor in the cocoa sector.
The following recommendations are provided to guide newly-installed
government officials in undertaking future anti-trafficking initiatives in
Cote d’Ivoire. The new government’s policies and perspectives on Cote d’
Ivoire’s human trafficking problem are presently unknown.
Scope and Magnitude: Cote d’Ivoire is primarily a country of destination
for children and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution.
It is also a country of transit and origin for trafficking victims. Trafficking
within the country’s borders is most prevalent, with victims primarily
recruited and transported from the north of the country to the more
economically prosperous south. Boys from Ghana, Mali, and Burkina
Faso are subjected to forced labor in Cote d’Ivoire’s agricultural sector,
including on cocoa, coffee, pineapple, and rubber plantations. Boys from
Ghana are forced to work in the mining sector, boys from Togo in
construction, and boys from Benin in carpentry and construction. Girls
recruited from Ghana, Togo, and Benin to work as domestic servants
and street vendors often are subjected to conditions of forced labor.
Women and girls are also lured to Cote d’Ivoire from Ghana and Nigeria
with promises of jobs such as waitressing in restaurants and bars, selling
clothing, or skills training, and are subsequently subjected to forced
prostitution. During the year, an international organization reported
receiving an Ivorian trafficking victim who had been forced into domestic
servitude in Tunisia. There were reports that children may have been
recruited, at times by force, into armed groups loyal to both Gbagbo and
Ouattara.
For full report click here
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
On August 6, Ivoirian authorities detained Imam Abd al Menhem
Qubaysi, a Hizballah spiritual leader and U.S. designated terrorist
financier, at the airport upon his arrival on a commercial flight from
Lebanon. Qubaysi, who lived in Cote d'Ivoire for a number of years, was
denied entry at immigration and returned to Lebanon on the same flight.
The Ivoirian Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the United States,
uses the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation
System (PISCES) to enhance border security at its major airport and
seaport. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which was formed in 2008,
received additional legal authority when Ordinance 637 on terrorism
financing became law on November 12, 2009. The law extends FIU
activities to the receipt, analysis, and dissemination of information on
transactions suspected of being terrorism-related.
_________________________________________________________
AML News / Updates
8 February, 2011 - On 31st January 2011, Regulation (EC) No
560/2005 was implemented, imposing certain specific restrictive
measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the
situation in Côte d'Ivoire
Read Regulation....
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
US State Dept Narcotics Report 2011 (introduction):
No report available
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Special Case)
In the months prior to the October 31, 2010 presidential election, the
Government of Cote d’Ivoire made fair anti-trafficking progress.
However, prospects for additional progress were extinguished by the
political stalemate and civil war following the November runoff as
incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to the
internationally-recognized winner, Alassane Ouattara. During the four-
month period that, critically, came at the end of the reporting period –
months slated for implementation of the newly-passed child trafficking
law – there was no national governing structure that could assume
responsibility for addressing the country’s human trafficking problem.
Police were militarized, courts were non-functional, and prisoners were
freed from jail. Basic public services were not available, including social
services necessary to address the needs of victims. Government
ministries were minimally staffed and effectively shut down due to a lack
of funding for salaries. The country descended into a period of
sustained violence that damaged the national infrastructure necessary
to address the trafficking problem. During this period, Ouattara’s
legitimate, elected regime lacked control over government ministries and
functions and the ability to engage in serious and sustained efforts to
combat trafficking.
The following summary covers the anti-trafficking efforts of the Gbagbo
government until the October 31, 2010 presidential election. The
government failed to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders or take
steps to identify trafficking victims among women and girls in prostitution.
Although it referred some child victims to NGOs for care, the government
did not provide services to adult victims, and it abandoned a plan to
build two shelters for trafficking victims. Though the government
acknowledged that certain forms of trafficking are a problem in the
country, such as forced child labor, it did not recognize other forms,
such as the forced prostitution of adults, and has never reported a
prosecution of forced labor in the cocoa sector.
The following recommendations are provided to guide newly-installed
government officials in undertaking future anti-trafficking initiatives in
Cote d’Ivoire. The new government’s policies and perspectives on Cote d’
Ivoire’s human trafficking problem are presently unknown.
Scope and Magnitude: Cote d’Ivoire is primarily a country of destination
for children and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution.
It is also a country of transit and origin for trafficking victims. Trafficking
within the country’s borders is most prevalent, with victims primarily
recruited and transported from the north of the country to the more
economically prosperous south. Boys from Ghana, Mali, and Burkina
Faso are subjected to forced labor in Cote d’Ivoire’s agricultural sector,
including on cocoa, coffee, pineapple, and rubber plantations. Boys from
Ghana are forced to work in the mining sector, boys from Togo in
construction, and boys from Benin in carpentry and construction. Girls
recruited from Ghana, Togo, and Benin to work as domestic servants
and street vendors often are subjected to conditions of forced labor.
Women and girls are also lured to Cote d’Ivoire from Ghana and Nigeria
with promises of jobs such as waitressing in restaurants and bars, selling
clothing, or skills training, and are subsequently subjected to forced
prostitution. During the year, an international organization reported
receiving an Ivorian trafficking victim who had been forced into domestic
servitude in Tunisia. There were reports that children may have been
recruited, at times by force, into armed groups loyal to both Gbagbo and
Ouattara.
For full report click here
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
On August 6, Ivoirian authorities detained Imam Abd al Menhem
Qubaysi, a Hizballah spiritual leader and U.S. designated terrorist
financier, at the airport upon his arrival on a commercial flight from
Lebanon. Qubaysi, who lived in Cote d'Ivoire for a number of years, was
denied entry at immigration and returned to Lebanon on the same flight.
The Ivoirian Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the United States,
uses the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation
System (PISCES) to enhance border security at its major airport and
seaport. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which was formed in 2008,
received additional legal authority when Ordinance 637 on terrorism
financing became law on November 12, 2009. The law extends FIU
activities to the receipt, analysis, and dissemination of information on
transactions suspected of being terrorism-related.
_________________________________________________________
AML News / Updates
8 February, 2011 - On 31st January 2011, Regulation (EC) No
560/2005 was implemented, imposing certain specific restrictive
measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the
situation in Côte d'Ivoire
Read Regulation....
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
|
|
Sanctions:
February 14, 2012 - EU implement Regulation (EU) No 113/2012
of 10 February 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 560/2005
imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against
certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire
Read Regulation
By the adoption of UNSCR 1572 (2004) on 15 November 2004,
the United Nations imposed an arms embargo with immediate
effect on the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) and also imposed travel
restrictions and an assets freeze effective 15 December 2004 on
individuals designated by the UN Sanctions Committee as
deemed to constitute a threat to the peace and national
reconciliation process in the Ivory Coast, in particular those who
block implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III
Agreements, any other person determined as responsible for
serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian
law in the Ivory Coast, any person who incites publicly hatred and
violence, and any other person determined by the Committee to
be in violation of the arms embargo also imposed in UNSCR 1572
(2004).
For further information:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_ivorycoast.htm
On 31 January 2011, Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 was
implemented, imposing certain specific restrictive measures
directed against certain persons and entities in view of the
situation in Côte d'Ivoire.
For further information: -
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:
028:032:033:EN:PDF
For further information on US sanctions, please go to the following
link: -
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-
center/sanctions/Programs/pages/coted.aspx
____________________________________________________
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists:
Information unavailable.
____________________________________________________
US State Department Money Laundering Report- March
2010:
The Republic of Cote d’Ivoire is an important West African
regional financial hub. Laundered proceeds are reportedly
derived from regional criminal activity, such as the smuggling of
consumer goods and agricultural products. Reportedly, most of
the smuggling networks are organized by nationals from Nigeria
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak of the
rebellion in 2002 increased the amount of smuggling of goods
across the northern borders, including cocoa, cashews, timber,
textiles, tobacco products, and light motorcycles. Reportedly,
there has also been an increase in the mining and smuggling of
diamonds from areas in the north.
Due to the abnormal political situation in Cote d’Ivoire, rule of law
implementation remains poor. As a result, Ivorian and other West
African nationals are becoming increasingly involved in criminal
activities and the subsequent laundering of illicit funds. National
authorities have been redeploying, but the Forces Nouvelles
retains de-facto control over the northern borders and of revenue
generated in its zone. Smuggling of agricultural products, cars,
and pirated DVDs occurs in the government-controlled south and
is motivated by a desire to avoid taxes (principally value-added
taxes). Smuggling over Cote d’Ivoire’s porous borders generates
illicit funds that are primarily laundered via informal money
services businesses and exchange houses. In addition,
authorities believe criminal enterprises use the formal banking
system and the used car and real-estate industries to launder
funds. Public corruption also poses concerns.
The extent to which Ivorian territory is involved in the growing use
of West Africa as a transshipment point for drugs from South
America to Europe is largely unknown but is of concern to law
enforcement officials. Ivorian law enforcement authorities have
little control over the northern half of the country. The ongoing de
facto division of the country makes it difficult to assess Ivorian
involvement in narcotics trafficking, as well as its possible role as
a center for the laundering of narcotics proceeds.
Offshore Center: No
Free Trade Zones: No
There are no free trade zones in Cote d’Ivoire. However, in June
2008, after securing funding, the Government of Cote d’Ivoire
(GOCI) began negotiations to purchase a site to build a free trade
zone for information technology and biotechnology in Grand
Bassam.
Criminalizes narcotics money laundering: Yes
The penal code criminalizes money laundering related to drug
trafficking, fraud, and arms trafficking.
Criminalizes other money laundering, including terrorism-related:
Yes
In November 2005, the National Assembly adopted the West
African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) common anti-
money laundering (AML) law. With this law, Cote d’Ivoire adopted
the all-crimes approach to money laundering, making it a criminal
offense regardless of the predicate offense.
Criminalizes terrorist financing: Yes
(Please refer to the Department of State’s Country Reports on
Terrorism, which can be found here: http://www.state.
gov/s/ct/rls/crt/)
Ordinance 367 of December 2009 defines the legal framework for
counter-terrorist financing in Côte d’Ivoire by implementing the
United Nations Conventions on the suppression of terrorist
financing. The ordinance also strengthens the whole national
system for the fight against transnational financial crime, and
particularly money laundering.
Know-your-customer rules: Yes
The AML law mandates standard know-your-customer
requirements for banks and other financial institutions. The law
also imposes certain customer identification and record
maintenance requirements on casinos and exchange houses.
Bearer shares are authorized for banks and companies.
Bank records retention: Yes
All Ivorian financial institutions must maintain customer
identification and transaction records for ten years. Law
enforcement authorities can request access to these records to
investigate financial crimes through a public prosecutor.
Suspicious transaction reporting: Yes
In addition to the AML law, new money laundering controls apply
to non-bank financial institutions such as exchange houses, stock
brokerage firms, insurance companies, casinos, cash couriers,
national lotteries, non-governmental organizations, travel
agencies, art dealers, gem dealers, accountants, attorneys, and
real estate agents. All Ivorian financial institutions, non-financial
businesses, and professions subject to the scope of the money
laundering law are required to report suspicious transactions. The
Ivorian banking code protects reporting individuals. Ordinance
367 of December 2009 extends the suspicious activity report
(SAR) filing requirement to suspected terrorist financing.
The AML law provides for the establishment of a financial
intelligence unit (FIU) known as “Cellule Nationale de Traitement
des Informations Financieres” (CENTIF). Since its inception in
January 2008, CENTIF has received approximately 98 SARs and
forwarded four cases to prosecutors. To date, no arrests or
convictions have resulted.
Large currency transaction reporting: Yes
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) requires
banking officials in member countries to report all deposits over
CFA 5,000,000 (approximately $11,363) to the BCEAO, along with
customer identification information.
Narcotics asset seizure and forfeiture: Yes
The AML law includes both criminal and civil penalties, and
permits the freezing and seizure of assets, which can be both
instruments for and proceeds of crime. Legitimate businesses are
among the assets that can be seized if used to launder money or
support terrorism or other illegal activities. Authorities cannot
seize substitute assets, as assets can only be seized if there is a
relationship between the assets and the offense.
Narcotics asset sharing authority:
No information available.
Cross-border currency transportation requirements:
When traveling to another WAEMU country, Ivorian and expatriate
residents must declare the amount of currency being carried out
of the country. When traveling to a destination outside WAEMU,
Ivorian and expatriate residents are prohibited from carrying an
amount of currency greater than the equivalent of 500,000 CFA
francs (approximately $1,136) for tourists, and two million CFA
francs (approximately $4,545) for business operators, without
prior approval from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. If
additional amounts are approved, they must be in the form of
travelers’ checks.
Cooperation with foreign governments:
The AML Lawprovides a legal basis for international cooperation.
U.S. or international sanctions or penalties: Yes
In October 2009, the United Nations Security Council extended
sanctions previously imposed on Cote d'Ivoire; the sanctions
include an arms embargo and the ban on any country importing
rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire. The country has been split by
a long-running civil war with a rebel-held north and a government-
held south.
Enforcement and implementation issues and comments:
The banking sector is active, but because it caters to large
commercial enterprises rather than small-account holders, many
Ivoirians use informal money couriers, money transfer
organizations similar to hawaladars and, increasingly, goods
transportation companies to transfer funds domestically, as well
as within the region. The absence of banking services in northern
Côte d'Ivoire during the political/military crisis led to an even
greater use of informal transfers in that area of the country. There
is no regulation of domestic informal value transfer systems.
Informal remittance transfers from outside Cote d’Ivoire violate
BCEAO money transfer regulations.
The Economic and Financial police report an ongoing rise in
financial crimes related to credit card theft and foreign bank
account fraud. These include wire transfers of large sums of
money primarily involving British and American account holders
who are the victims of Internet-based advance fee scams. Cote d’
Ivoire has no law specifically targeting Internet scams. Cote d’
Ivoire is ranked 154 out of 180 countries in Transparency
International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Hizballah is present in Côte d’Ivoire and conducts fundraising
activities, mostly among the large Lebanese expatriate
community. In 2009 the GOCI took steps to restrict the fundraising
efforts of Lebanese Hizballah operating out of mosques in
Abidjan. In May 2009, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224,
the Department of the Treasury designated Abd Al Menhem
Qubaysi, an Ivorian-based Hizballah supporter and the personal
representative of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
Qubaysi departed Cote d’Ivoire and has since been barred from
returning.
In 2009, there were no arrests or prosecutions for money
laundering or terrorist financing.
The BCEAO and the GOCI report that they promptly circulate to all
financial institutions the names of suspected terrorists and
terrorist organizations on the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee’s
Consolidated List and those on the list of Specially Designated
Global Terrorists designated by the U.S. pursuant to E.O. 13224.
To date, no assets related to terrorist entities or individuals have
been discovered, frozen or seized.
U.S.-related currency transactions:
No information available.
Records exchange mechanism with U.S.:
Other than the authority granted to CENTIF by the AML law, the
GOCI has neither adopted laws nor promulgated regulations that
specifically allow for the exchange of records with the United
States on money laundering and terrorist financing. However, the
GOCI has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with the United
States in investigating financial or other crimes.
International agreements:
CENTIF can share information with other FIUs in WAEMU and with
those of non-WAEMU countries on a reciprocal basis and with the
permission of the Ministry of Finance.
Cote d’Ivoire is a party to:
* the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of
Terrorism - Yes
* the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime - No
* the 1988 UN Drug Convention - Yes
* the UN Convention against Corruption - No
The GOCI participates in the Intergovernmental Group for Action
against Money Laundering (GIABA), a Financial Action Task
Force-style regional body. GIABA had scheduled a mutual
evaluation for Cote d’Ivoire for November 2009, but it was
postponed by the Ivoirians. Once an evaluation is completed and
published, it will be found here: http://www.giaba.org/index.php?
type=c&id=24&mod=2&men=2
Recommendations:
The Government of Cote d’Ivoire should work to improve
implementation of their AML and CTF laws in line with international
standards. The Ministry of Finance should continue to build
human and technological capacity at CENTIF to maximize
effectiveness in FIU functions, especially analysis, outreach, and
information sharing. CENTIF should continue to work toward
becoming a member of the Egmont Group. Cote d’Ivoire’s law
enforcement and customs authorities need to implement
measures to diminish smuggling, trade-based money laundering,
and informal value transfer systems. Government of Cote d’Ivoire
(GOCI) authorities should also take steps to halt the spread of
corruption that permeates both commerce and government and
facilitates the continued growth of the underground economy and
money laundering. The GOCI should become a party to the UN
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN
Convention against Corruption.
February 14, 2012 - EU implement Regulation (EU) No 113/2012
of 10 February 2012 implementing Regulation (EC) No 560/2005
imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against
certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire
Read Regulation
By the adoption of UNSCR 1572 (2004) on 15 November 2004,
the United Nations imposed an arms embargo with immediate
effect on the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) and also imposed travel
restrictions and an assets freeze effective 15 December 2004 on
individuals designated by the UN Sanctions Committee as
deemed to constitute a threat to the peace and national
reconciliation process in the Ivory Coast, in particular those who
block implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III
Agreements, any other person determined as responsible for
serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian
law in the Ivory Coast, any person who incites publicly hatred and
violence, and any other person determined by the Committee to
be in violation of the arms embargo also imposed in UNSCR 1572
(2004).
For further information:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_ivorycoast.htm
On 31 January 2011, Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 was
implemented, imposing certain specific restrictive measures
directed against certain persons and entities in view of the
situation in Côte d'Ivoire.
For further information: -
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:
028:032:033:EN:PDF
For further information on US sanctions, please go to the following
link: -
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-
center/sanctions/Programs/pages/coted.aspx
____________________________________________________
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists:
Information unavailable.
____________________________________________________
US State Department Money Laundering Report- March
2010:
The Republic of Cote d’Ivoire is an important West African
regional financial hub. Laundered proceeds are reportedly
derived from regional criminal activity, such as the smuggling of
consumer goods and agricultural products. Reportedly, most of
the smuggling networks are organized by nationals from Nigeria
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak of the
rebellion in 2002 increased the amount of smuggling of goods
across the northern borders, including cocoa, cashews, timber,
textiles, tobacco products, and light motorcycles. Reportedly,
there has also been an increase in the mining and smuggling of
diamonds from areas in the north.
Due to the abnormal political situation in Cote d’Ivoire, rule of law
implementation remains poor. As a result, Ivorian and other West
African nationals are becoming increasingly involved in criminal
activities and the subsequent laundering of illicit funds. National
authorities have been redeploying, but the Forces Nouvelles
retains de-facto control over the northern borders and of revenue
generated in its zone. Smuggling of agricultural products, cars,
and pirated DVDs occurs in the government-controlled south and
is motivated by a desire to avoid taxes (principally value-added
taxes). Smuggling over Cote d’Ivoire’s porous borders generates
illicit funds that are primarily laundered via informal money
services businesses and exchange houses. In addition,
authorities believe criminal enterprises use the formal banking
system and the used car and real-estate industries to launder
funds. Public corruption also poses concerns.
The extent to which Ivorian territory is involved in the growing use
of West Africa as a transshipment point for drugs from South
America to Europe is largely unknown but is of concern to law
enforcement officials. Ivorian law enforcement authorities have
little control over the northern half of the country. The ongoing de
facto division of the country makes it difficult to assess Ivorian
involvement in narcotics trafficking, as well as its possible role as
a center for the laundering of narcotics proceeds.
Offshore Center: No
Free Trade Zones: No
There are no free trade zones in Cote d’Ivoire. However, in June
2008, after securing funding, the Government of Cote d’Ivoire
(GOCI) began negotiations to purchase a site to build a free trade
zone for information technology and biotechnology in Grand
Bassam.
Criminalizes narcotics money laundering: Yes
The penal code criminalizes money laundering related to drug
trafficking, fraud, and arms trafficking.
Criminalizes other money laundering, including terrorism-related:
Yes
In November 2005, the National Assembly adopted the West
African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) common anti-
money laundering (AML) law. With this law, Cote d’Ivoire adopted
the all-crimes approach to money laundering, making it a criminal
offense regardless of the predicate offense.
Criminalizes terrorist financing: Yes
(Please refer to the Department of State’s Country Reports on
Terrorism, which can be found here: http://www.state.
gov/s/ct/rls/crt/)
Ordinance 367 of December 2009 defines the legal framework for
counter-terrorist financing in Côte d’Ivoire by implementing the
United Nations Conventions on the suppression of terrorist
financing. The ordinance also strengthens the whole national
system for the fight against transnational financial crime, and
particularly money laundering.
Know-your-customer rules: Yes
The AML law mandates standard know-your-customer
requirements for banks and other financial institutions. The law
also imposes certain customer identification and record
maintenance requirements on casinos and exchange houses.
Bearer shares are authorized for banks and companies.
Bank records retention: Yes
All Ivorian financial institutions must maintain customer
identification and transaction records for ten years. Law
enforcement authorities can request access to these records to
investigate financial crimes through a public prosecutor.
Suspicious transaction reporting: Yes
In addition to the AML law, new money laundering controls apply
to non-bank financial institutions such as exchange houses, stock
brokerage firms, insurance companies, casinos, cash couriers,
national lotteries, non-governmental organizations, travel
agencies, art dealers, gem dealers, accountants, attorneys, and
real estate agents. All Ivorian financial institutions, non-financial
businesses, and professions subject to the scope of the money
laundering law are required to report suspicious transactions. The
Ivorian banking code protects reporting individuals. Ordinance
367 of December 2009 extends the suspicious activity report
(SAR) filing requirement to suspected terrorist financing.
The AML law provides for the establishment of a financial
intelligence unit (FIU) known as “Cellule Nationale de Traitement
des Informations Financieres” (CENTIF). Since its inception in
January 2008, CENTIF has received approximately 98 SARs and
forwarded four cases to prosecutors. To date, no arrests or
convictions have resulted.
Large currency transaction reporting: Yes
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) requires
banking officials in member countries to report all deposits over
CFA 5,000,000 (approximately $11,363) to the BCEAO, along with
customer identification information.
Narcotics asset seizure and forfeiture: Yes
The AML law includes both criminal and civil penalties, and
permits the freezing and seizure of assets, which can be both
instruments for and proceeds of crime. Legitimate businesses are
among the assets that can be seized if used to launder money or
support terrorism or other illegal activities. Authorities cannot
seize substitute assets, as assets can only be seized if there is a
relationship between the assets and the offense.
Narcotics asset sharing authority:
No information available.
Cross-border currency transportation requirements:
When traveling to another WAEMU country, Ivorian and expatriate
residents must declare the amount of currency being carried out
of the country. When traveling to a destination outside WAEMU,
Ivorian and expatriate residents are prohibited from carrying an
amount of currency greater than the equivalent of 500,000 CFA
francs (approximately $1,136) for tourists, and two million CFA
francs (approximately $4,545) for business operators, without
prior approval from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. If
additional amounts are approved, they must be in the form of
travelers’ checks.
Cooperation with foreign governments:
The AML Lawprovides a legal basis for international cooperation.
U.S. or international sanctions or penalties: Yes
In October 2009, the United Nations Security Council extended
sanctions previously imposed on Cote d'Ivoire; the sanctions
include an arms embargo and the ban on any country importing
rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire. The country has been split by
a long-running civil war with a rebel-held north and a government-
held south.
Enforcement and implementation issues and comments:
The banking sector is active, but because it caters to large
commercial enterprises rather than small-account holders, many
Ivoirians use informal money couriers, money transfer
organizations similar to hawaladars and, increasingly, goods
transportation companies to transfer funds domestically, as well
as within the region. The absence of banking services in northern
Côte d'Ivoire during the political/military crisis led to an even
greater use of informal transfers in that area of the country. There
is no regulation of domestic informal value transfer systems.
Informal remittance transfers from outside Cote d’Ivoire violate
BCEAO money transfer regulations.
The Economic and Financial police report an ongoing rise in
financial crimes related to credit card theft and foreign bank
account fraud. These include wire transfers of large sums of
money primarily involving British and American account holders
who are the victims of Internet-based advance fee scams. Cote d’
Ivoire has no law specifically targeting Internet scams. Cote d’
Ivoire is ranked 154 out of 180 countries in Transparency
International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Hizballah is present in Côte d’Ivoire and conducts fundraising
activities, mostly among the large Lebanese expatriate
community. In 2009 the GOCI took steps to restrict the fundraising
efforts of Lebanese Hizballah operating out of mosques in
Abidjan. In May 2009, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224,
the Department of the Treasury designated Abd Al Menhem
Qubaysi, an Ivorian-based Hizballah supporter and the personal
representative of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
Qubaysi departed Cote d’Ivoire and has since been barred from
returning.
In 2009, there were no arrests or prosecutions for money
laundering or terrorist financing.
The BCEAO and the GOCI report that they promptly circulate to all
financial institutions the names of suspected terrorists and
terrorist organizations on the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee’s
Consolidated List and those on the list of Specially Designated
Global Terrorists designated by the U.S. pursuant to E.O. 13224.
To date, no assets related to terrorist entities or individuals have
been discovered, frozen or seized.
U.S.-related currency transactions:
No information available.
Records exchange mechanism with U.S.:
Other than the authority granted to CENTIF by the AML law, the
GOCI has neither adopted laws nor promulgated regulations that
specifically allow for the exchange of records with the United
States on money laundering and terrorist financing. However, the
GOCI has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with the United
States in investigating financial or other crimes.
International agreements:
CENTIF can share information with other FIUs in WAEMU and with
those of non-WAEMU countries on a reciprocal basis and with the
permission of the Ministry of Finance.
Cote d’Ivoire is a party to:
* the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of
Terrorism - Yes
* the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime - No
* the 1988 UN Drug Convention - Yes
* the UN Convention against Corruption - No
The GOCI participates in the Intergovernmental Group for Action
against Money Laundering (GIABA), a Financial Action Task
Force-style regional body. GIABA had scheduled a mutual
evaluation for Cote d’Ivoire for November 2009, but it was
postponed by the Ivoirians. Once an evaluation is completed and
published, it will be found here: http://www.giaba.org/index.php?
type=c&id=24&mod=2&men=2
Recommendations:
The Government of Cote d’Ivoire should work to improve
implementation of their AML and CTF laws in line with international
standards. The Ministry of Finance should continue to build
human and technological capacity at CENTIF to maximize
effectiveness in FIU functions, especially analysis, outreach, and
information sharing. CENTIF should continue to work toward
becoming a member of the Egmont Group. Cote d’Ivoire’s law
enforcement and customs authorities need to implement
measures to diminish smuggling, trade-based money laundering,
and informal value transfer systems. Government of Cote d’Ivoire
(GOCI) authorities should also take steps to halt the spread of
corruption that permeates both commerce and government and
facilitates the continued growth of the underground economy and
money laundering. The GOCI should become a party to the UN
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN
Convention against Corruption.
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| COTE D'IVOIRE |
| KnowYourCountry |
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| Last Updated: 16 April 2012 |