Tanzania’s Anti-Terrorism Laws Meet Global Standards
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - A recent assessment has found that Tanzania’s anti-terrorism laws meet international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Compliance with FATF Recommendations
The assessment, conducted by a team of experts, evaluated Tanzania’s compliance with FATF’s Recommendations on Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT). The review focused on several key criteria, including:
- Definition of terrorism financing
- Identification and freezing of terrorist assets
- Prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in terrorist activities
Comprehensive Definition of Terrorism Financing
According to the assessment, Tanzania’s law defining terrorism financing is comprehensive and meets FATF’s requirements. The law prohibits:
- Funding or attempting to travel with the intent to participate in a terrorist act
- Providing or receiving terrorist training or support
Effective Laws for Identifying and Freezing Terrorist Assets
The review also found that Tanzania’s laws provide for the identification and freezing of terrorist assets, including property and bank accounts. Additionally, the country’s criminal justice system is equipped to prosecute individuals and organizations involved in terrorist activities, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
Minor Deficiencies
The assessment noted some minor deficiencies, including:
- Lack of explicit provisions allowing prosecutors to prove intent based on objective circumstances
- Limited scope of anti-terrorism laws, which do not cover the financing of individual terrorists or the use of terrorist funds
However, the Court of Appeal has established that intent can be inferred from factual circumstances, which meets FATF’s requirements. The country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Act (AMLA) 2022 addresses these issues by providing for sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in terrorism financing.
Conclusion
The assessment concluded that Tanzania has made significant progress in combating terrorism financing and meets most of FATF’s Recommendations on CFT. However, the country should continue to address outstanding deficiencies, including clarifying how accomplices and organizers of terrorist activities are covered under its laws.
Overall, the review highlights Tanzania’s commitment to combating terrorism financing and demonstrates its compliance with international standards set by FATF.