In the wake of the FATF decisions, the European Commission has decided to remove six African countries from its list of high-risk jurisdictions in terms of money laundering and financing of terrorism. A strong signal that improves the image of these economies with international investors.

The decision came in December 2025: Mali, Tanzania, South Africa, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and the Nigeria is no longer on the list of third countries at high risk of Brussels. This regulatory relief, which is due to come into force on 29 January 2026, follows structural reforms welcomed earlier by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

This withdrawal is not just a simple administrative formality; it has a direct impact on the real economy. En South Africa, the announcement has already caused an appreciation of the rand and a setback bond yields, a sign of renewed market confidence. For Nigeria, this exit from the watch lists should streamline diaspora remittances (over $21 billion in 2024) and reduce the operational costs of local banks.

In Burkina Faso and Mali, the authorities have strengthened the supervision of banking sectors and professions regulated (lawyers, notaries) to meet international requirements. According to the South African Treasury, this development will push institutions European financial institutions to positively review their assessment of “country risk”.

However, this withdrawal does not constitute a white breast. The South African authorities recognize that there is “still a lot to do” to fill the gaps in identification and prosecution of financial crimes. Moreover, the FATF urges these nations to strengthen their regional cooperation. As such, Mali and Burkina Faso joined, alongside Niger, the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money laundering in West Africa (GIABA) as members outside ECOWAS.

If this decision marks a victory stage for these six countries, other heavyweights on the continent such as Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast or DRC are still on the grey list, Recalling that the fight against illicit financial flows remains a fight of Long term for Africa.