Ethiopia faces a critical balancing act: how do you bring millions into the formal financial system while keeping terrorists out? The FATF's latest report reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with Al-Shabaab running sophisticated financial operations that exploit the same gaps keeping legitimate users excluded from banking. But here's the game-changer: new international guidance suggests that financial inclusion might actually be a security tool, not a security risk. This analysis explores how Ethiopia can implement "smart compliance" that serves development goals while blocking terrorist financing—proving that security and inclusion aren't opposing forces, but complementary aspects of a healthy financial system.

Cooperative banks and SACCOs play a vital role in financial inclusion across Africa and Asia — but AML regulations still apply. The good news? You don’t need big-bank budgets or complex systems to stay compliant. This guide shows how smaller institutions can meet their obligations, protect their members, and turn compliance into a growth opportunity.

Across Africa and Asia, regulators are tightening crypto rules — and smaller platforms are feeling the pressure. Whether you’re running a cross-border app, a remittance gateway, or a wallet product with agent networks, this guide walks through what’s changing, what regulators expect, and what you can do to stay compliant and competitive. No fear. No fluff. Just the facts.

Remittance companies are under growing pressure to comply with AML rules — even as margins stay tight and tech resources remain limited. This guide breaks down what firms in Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Ethiopia actually need to stay compliant and competitive. From KYC and sanctions screening to risk assessment and audit trails, we walk through what matters — and how to do it without breaking the bank.

Small banks face growing pressure to meet global AML standards — but with limited budgets and lean teams, compliance can feel out of reach. This guide breaks down how institutions across Africa and Asia can stay ahead of KYC and sanctions requirements without expensive software or long-term contracts. Discover how pay-as-you-go compliance tools are helping banks and financial institution build trust, reduce risk, and unlock growth.

Jeffrey Epstein was flagged. Repeatedly. But for years, the money kept moving. Banks filed Suspicious Activity Reports. Compliance officers raised concerns. Yet none of it stopped a predator with powerful clients and opaque wealth. In this post, we unpack how AML systems failed, why Source of Wealth checks matter—and what this case teaches us about real accountability in compliance.

Kenya is taking its first major step toward crypto regulation — starting not with users, but with the owners behind the platforms. Under pressure from the IMF and FATF, the government is moving to shine a light on who’s really running the show. What does this mean for VASPs, fintechs, and the future of digital finance in Kenya? This blog breaks it down.

Around the world, up to 300,000 people are locked inside guarded scam compounds — forced to defraud strangers online while their own freedom is held for ransom. On the other end, millions more lose their savings, trust and dignity to fake romances, bogus investments and ghost companies. This is modern slavery, scaled up for the digital age — and it spreads because dirty money slips through unnoticed. This story shows how good compliance isn’t just policy — it’s protection, rescue and the last line of defence when no one else is watching.

Who really is Alice Guo? In a small Philippine town, a mayor with no past ran a human trafficking hub and pig-butchering scams behind City Hall. Her story shows how shallow checks and local blind spots help dirty money hide in daylight — and why real compliance has to look closer.

Big changes, better outcomes: FATF’s 2025 updates make it clear that smart compliance should bring people in — not shut them out. From updated guidance that helps rural co-ops onboard customers with limited ID, to clearer cross-border payment rules for remittance and mobile money — here’s what’s changing, and how ANQA helps honest businesses stay connected and protected.

Sam Bankman-Fried pitched FTX as a tool for global good. Instead, it became one of the worst compliance failures in financial history. This is the story about image laundering — how charisma, cause marketing, and media hype replaced real oversight. And why strong controls matter, especially for the institutions trying to do things right.

Kenya is charting its path out of the FATF grey list with new anti-money laundering laws that bring real estate agents under regulatory oversight. Following President Ruto's assent to the AML Amendment Bill 2025, property professionals now have clear compliance obligations—and Anqa is offering free training to help them succeed. From POCAMLA requirements to practical due diligence, discover how Kenya's real estate sector is transforming compliance challenges into competitive advantages.

What does a fishing scandal in Namibia have to do with global compliance failures? Everything.

Fishrot isn’t just a corruption case—it’s a masterclass in how money laundering works across borders, how shell companies mask bribes, and how weak oversight enables theft on a national scale. From EU banks to Dubai free zones, the $650 million scheme exposed systemic blind spots in financial crime detection. This is the story of what happens when compliance fails—and why emerging markets need smarter tools to stop it.

What happens when rusting tankers, fake flags, and spoofed locations collide with billion-dollar oil trades? In this blog, Anqa Compliance explores how Russia’s growing shadow fleet is turning maritime sanctions evasion into hybrid warfare — and why every freight forwarder, insurer, or port operator should be paying attention.

How did Africa’s richest woman—flagged as a high-risk PEP—build a $2 billion empire using state assets, global firms, and prestige accounting? The Isabel dos Santos story isn’t just about corruption. It’s about what happens when compliance systems fail to act on the risks they already see. Here’s what her case reveals about sanctions screening, enablement, and the infrastructure gaps that keep it all going.

The RM39 million Aman Palestin scandal shocked donors and nonprofits across Southeast Asia — exposing how easily trust can be exploited when financial controls are weak. As NGOs face growing scrutiny, the need for simple, effective compliance tools has never been clearer. That’s why we created NGO Financial Compliance Fundamentals — a free online training course built specifically for the nonprofit and humanitarian sector. Whether you’re leading a community program or handling donor funds, this course will help you protect your mission, your people, and your reputation.

Kenya’s financial regulator has flagged major anti-money laundering gaps in the real estate and gaming sectors. With over 50% of casinos and dozens of agencies operating without basic safeguards, this report is a wake-up call for DNFBPs across East Africa. Learn how digital compliance tools can help close the gap.

This post explores how lean fintechs, NGOs, and real estate teams are building smarter, scalable compliance systems — without the corporate safety net. Designed for emerging markets, Anqa’s tools support real-world AML, KYC, and sanctions screening where it matters most.

Discover how one fintech in Eswatini is driving both financial inclusion and regulatory reform — and what it means for banking, compliance, and digital lending in Southern Africa.

Many African SMEs aren’t burdened by outdated legacy systems — and that’s a competitive advantage. In this blog, we explore how the lack of complex infrastructure enables faster, easier adoption of digital AML and KYC tools. From mobile-first operations to cloud-based compliance, African businesses are uniquely positioned to leap ahead. Discover how ANQA COMPLIANCE supports this momentum by offering simple, secure solutions designed for fast-moving markets.