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  1. Strengthening regional responses to terrorism financing risks: workshop on countering the misuse of virtual assets

Strengthening regional responses to terrorism financing risks: workshop on countering the misuse of virtual assets

The 51影院 Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the 51影院 Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), and the Financial Intelligence Unit of Ethiopia held a three-day regional workshop on “Countering the Misuse of Virtual Assets to Finance Terrorism” from 3 to 5 June 2025 in Addis Ababa.

The event brought together representatives from Financial Intelligence Units, law enforcement agencies, and regulatory authorities across ESAAMLG Member States, as well as experts from the private sector and partner organizations, such as the Eurasian Group (EAG). 

At the opening UNOCT/UNCCT, stressed the urgency of building regional capacity to keep pace with emerging technologies as virtual assets are rapidly reshaping the financial landscape. Without effective regulation and strong cross-border cooperation, the critical gaps that can be exploited by terrorists and criminal networks are at risk of increasing. Representatives from the Embassies of India and the Russian Federation in Ethiopia also delivered remarks, reaffirming their commitment to international cooperation in countering terrorism financing.

Over the course of three days, participants engaged in technical sessions designed to:

  • Build understanding of virtual assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)
  • Strengthen risk-based supervisory and regulatory approaches in line with FATF Recommendation 15
  • Improve blockchain analytics skills and crypto-related investigative capabilities
  • Enhance cross-border coordination and public-private collaboration.

A full day of the workshop was dedicated to the implementation of the Handbook on Countering the Misuse of Virtual Assets, jointly developed by UNOCT, Rosfinmonitoring, and EAG. The Handbook showcases practical case studies and policy recommendations derived from regional implementation experiences.

The final day featured discussions on best practices, including industry-led compliance models, and concluded with a session on translating the principles of the Delhi Declaration into regional action.

Background

The workshop was made possible with financial support from the Government of India and the Russian Federation, under the framework of the UNOCT Global Programme on Countering the Financing of Terrorism. The Global Programme was launched in 2020 to provide coordinated, tailored capacity-building support to Member States. The event also contributes to the implementation of the Second ESAAMLG Regional Operational Plan on CFT and supports compliance with FATF standards, particularly Recommendation 15 on virtual assets.