By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), will host the 2025 Afreximbank Compliance Forum (ACF2025) in Kigali from November 12–14, with a strong focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping trade and compliance across Africa.
Themed “Better Compliance – Better Trade: Embracing AI to Promote and Secure Trade Through a Modern AML/CFT Compliance Framework”, the Forum will examine how AI is advancing fraud detection, expediting risk assessments, strengthening due diligence, and enabling real-time monitoring of cross-border transactions. These innovations are seen as critical in curbing illicit financial flows, enhancing transparency, and building secure compliance systems that will boost Africa’s trade competitiveness globally.
Dr. George Elombi, Executive Vice-President, Governance, Legal and Corporate Services and Incoming President of Afreximbank, said AI had shifted from being viewed as a regulatory cost to becoming a strategic driver of trade and economic growth. “Robust compliance frameworks ensure regulatory alignment and reassure trade partners of integrity in business, creating fairer competition, improving access to finance, and strengthening Africa’s integration into the global economy,” he stated.
He added that the partnership with the National Bank of Rwanda reflects a joint commitment to advancing innovation in compliance, safeguarding financial integrity, and promoting sustainable growth in African trade.
Echoing this, Hon. Soraya M. Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, described compliance as the cornerstone of financial stability and sustainable growth. “By aligning with international best practices and leveraging innovations such as artificial intelligence, we are reinforcing the integrity of our market, deepening investor confidence, and strengthening Rwanda’s standing as a trusted partner in global trade,” she said.
The Kigali Forum is expected to attract participants from across Africa and beyond, including central bankers, regulators, commercial bankers, compliance officers, legal experts, financial institutions, Fintech innovators, auditors, and financial intelligence agencies.
