Financial Crime World

Yemen’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Lagging Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Struggling to Maintain Momentum

Sana’a, Yemen - Despite making significant progress in legislative compliance and implementation between 2007 and 2014, Yemen has struggled to maintain momentum in its fight against corruption since the outbreak of war. A new report by AWTAD Anti-Corruption Organization highlights the country’s continued shortcomings in anti-money laundering measures and asset recovery.

Weak Implementation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures

According to the report, while Yemen has updated its Anti-Money Laundering Law multiple times and established key institutions such as the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee (NAML&CFT) and the Financial Information Collection Unit (FIU), the level of processing and following-up of suspicious transaction reports remains weak due to the ongoing conflict.

  • The country lacks a fund for expropriated assets.
  • No foreign assets have been confiscated under rulings from courts in other States Parties.
  • Yemen relies heavily on existing laws to collect public funds.
  • There is no law on “recovering looted funds obtained from corruption crimes.”

Key Recommendations

The report makes several key recommendations to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Yemen, including:

  • Providing adequate funding for anti-corruption bodies and ensuring their independence.
  • Re-establishment of boards of directors for key institutions.
  • Setting up a unified team to assess compliance with UNCAC chapters.
  • Operationalizing the Office of the Commissioner-General of Information.

Strengthening Anti-Corruption Efforts

The report suggests:

  • Allocating part of humanitarian aid for good governance programs.
  • Expanding civil society participation in reviewing and developing legislation.
  • Issuing a package of laws related to fighting corruption.
  • Joining international forums for exchanging financial information.
  • Signing bilateral agreements with States Parties to enhance asset recovery efforts.

A Wake-Up Call

The AWTAD Anti-Corruption Organization’s report serves as a wake-up call for the Yemeni government and international community to prioritize anti-corruption efforts in the country, ensuring that vital funds are not siphoned off by corrupt officials and that the population is protected from the devastating effects of corruption.