From Our Correspondent
Lagos, Nov. 4, ’26 (TNZ) Afreximbank has announced speakers for its 2026 Compliance Forum, scheduled for Nov. 16 – 18 in Gaborone, Botswana, to advance regulatory cooperation and cross-border trade.
TheNewsZenith reports that the bank is organising the three-day event, described as Africa’s largest compliance-focused gathering, in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC).
It will bring together bankers, regulators, compliance specialists, fintech executives and technology providers from more than 40 countries.
Participants will examine ways to strengthen financial regulation and improve trade across African markets.
“Better Compliance – Better Trade: Leveraging Compliance to Promote African Regulations that Advance Intra-African Economic and Trade Integration” is the theme of the event.
It is taking place at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Discussions will focus on regulatory differences across African countries, barriers to cross-border financial transactions and limited access to correspondent banking services.
Participants will also explore how technology can improve compliance and facilitate international trade.
Idrissa Diop, Compliance Director at Afreximbank, said African banks operate under different legal systems, regulatory approaches and levels of digital development.
He stressed the need for cooperation without compromising the regulatory independence of individual countries.
“Africa does not need uniformity at any cost. It needs interoperability that reduces friction while preserving regulatory sovereignty,” Diop said.
The opening session, tagged “Is Better Compliance Leading to Better Trade?”, will examine how improved regulatory cooperation can support cross-border business.
Other sessions will address anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, sanctions, cybersecurity, consumer protection and artificial intelligence in compliance operations.
Speakers invited are Gov. Lesego Caster Moseki of the Bank of Botswana and Dr Patrick Ndzana Olomo of the African Union Commission.
Others include Luis Koberg, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Klearium Group, and Shane Ridel, Chief Executive Officer of Elucidate.
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The speaker list also features Sophie Barre, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Wave Mobile Money Group; Mooketsi Ramanteba of the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority; Nellie Nuyoni of CBZ Holdings; Moira Mapundu of NMB Bank Limited; and Boitumelo William of Continental Reinsurance.
Compliance specialists from Dow Jones and Standard Chartered will also participate.
Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Keletsositse Olebile, said effective compliance systems were essential for building investor confidence and protecting financial institutions.
He added that predictable regulations create an enabling environment for trade and business growth.
Access to correspondent banking services will feature prominently at the forum.
Koberg said many African banks continue to face difficulties in accessing such services, partly because of limited transparency across payment channels.
He noted that better visibility across payment systems would help financial institutions assess risks more accurately and make informed decisions.
This, he said, could improve confidence and strengthen access to international banking networks.
The forum will also examine how financial technology companies can expand access to affordable services through risk-based customer onboarding.
Barre said fintech companies could combine advanced technology with intelligent risk assessment to provide simple, reliable and compliant financial services.
An exhibition of artificial intelligence-enabled anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems will also feature at the event.
The exhibition will allow participants to explore technologies designed to improve risk detection, transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting.
Afreximbank said the forum comes at a time when artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, third-party risks and changing regulatory requirements are creating new demands for financial institutions.
The gathering is expected to provide a platform for developing practical compliance strategies that reflect Africa’s economic and institutional realities while supporting the movement of capital, goods and services across the continent. (TNZ)
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