The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer, Abdi Mohamud, has called on African countries to strengthen regional cooperation in the fight against corruption and financial crimes in the fisheries sector by establishing formal mechanisms for joint investigations, and asset recovery.
Mohamud made the call today while delivering a keynote address during the opening of the Regional Conference on Addressing Corruption and Financial Crimes in the Fisheries Sector in Nairobi.
He emphasized that strong cross-border collaboration is critical to disrupting corruption networks, tracing illicit assets, and safeguarding the region’s natural resources in the blue economy.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to recovering the proceeds of corruption, noting that EACC will continue to champion regional cooperation in asset tracing and forfeiture of assets linked to corruption in the fisheries sector are identified, seized, and recovered for the benefit of the public.
“The sustainability of our fisheries depends not only on how we manage our natural resources, but also on how effectively we uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability,” said Mohamud.
The three-day conference, held under the theme “Enhancing Cooperation, Data Use and Operational Responses,” has been convened by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the FishNET II Project with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The forum brings together government agencies, anti-corruption bodies, law enforcement institutions, and delegates from across Africa including, Seychelles, south Africa, Tanzania, Namibia among others to strengthen regional responses to corruption, money laundering and illicit financial flows in the sector.
The Coordinator of the Illicit Finance Fusion Centre for Africa Kodjo Atisso, highlighted that the conference provides a platform for participants to exchange experiences, strengthen regional cooperation, and enhance financial investigations to promote integrity and accountability in the sector.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Counsellor for Regional Commercial Affairs at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Marta Gjørtz, also reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting UNODC and other development partners in advancing regional efforts to combat corruption and financial crime in the fisheries sector.
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