Everything don set for the first-ever General Assembly of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP-F), as 54 African countries gear up to storm Abuja from November 17 to 20.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Hassan Mohamed, shared the details during a media briefing in Abuja this Saturday. Mr. Mohamed, who also serves as the director of special services at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), confirmed that all 54 nations across the continent will be joining the discussions virtually.
The main focus of this continental gathering is to put a strong stop to the billions of dollars that Africa continues to lose every year through corruption and illegal financial deals. According to the organisers, the assembly wants to bring all anti-corruption agencies on the same page, especially now that recovering stolen wealth has become a central part of the global fight against graft.
Abuja was chosen as the host city for a strategic reason, giving Nigeria the chance to take a lead role in pushing Africa’s collective agenda under the watch of the African Union. Mr. Mohamed explained that hosting the event makes Abuja a central point for stakeholders, both from within Africa and abroad, to swap notes, build partnerships, and push a unified agenda for the continent.
The assembly is themed, “From Commitment to Action—Enhancing Africa’s Asset Recovery Architecture through Effective Implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR).” The forum was first established back in April 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the specific aim of helping practitioners work together more effectively to implement CAPAR.
The African Union believes it is very important to have this forum so that whatever assets are recovered can be put back into use for the benefit of the common man. Mr. Mohamed stressed that when public funds are successfully recovered, it gives countries the chance to redirect those resources into things the citizens actually need, like better public services, stronger institutions, and building back trust in government systems.
He also warned that no single country can win the battle against cross-border financial crimes alone. Because of this, he is calling for better information sharing, stronger partnerships, and more effective cooperation at the international level.
During the assembly, top officials, including heads of anti-corruption agencies, financial intelligence experts, and international partners, will review how much progress has been made. They plan to adopt new governance tools and agree on a clear path forward. Mr. Mohamed wrapped up by urging African governments to ensure that CAPAR does not just stay as a paper policy, but becomes a practical tool that guides real action across the continent.
Source: NaijaProbe