Consolidated assessment ratings | Mutual Evaluations of Benin, Buthan, Burkina Faso, Brunei, Côte d’Ivoire, Laos & Liberia

The FATF has published its latest updates to its Consolidated assessment ratings together with the publications of Mutual Evaluation Reports of Benin, Buthan, Burkina Faso, Brunei, Côte d’Ivoire, Laos & Liberia on progress in strengthening measures to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.
The updated Consolidated assessment ratings provide an up-to-date overview of all assessed countries concerning the effectiveness and technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations, using the FATF Methodology together with the FATF 4th Round Procedures. These ratings should be read in conjunction with the detailed Mutual Evaluations. All these documents are available on the FATF website.
The current characteristics on both the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems, as well as technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations of Benin, Buthan, Burkina Faso, Brunei, Côte d’Ivoire, Laos & Liberia are the following:
#### Effectiveness Ratings
Note: Effectiveness ratings can be either a High-HE, Substantial-SE, Moderate-ME, or Low-LE, level of effectiveness.
| Jurisdiction | Report Type | Report Date | Assessment body/bodies | IO1 | IO2 | IO3 | IO4 | IO5 | IO6 | IO7 | IO8 | IO9 | IO10 | IO11 |
| ———————————————————————————————————————————- | ————— | —————— | ————————– | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——– | ——– |
| Benin | MER+FUR | Jul/23 | GIABA | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE |
| Bhutan | MER+FURs | Aug/23 | APG | LE | ME | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | ME | LE | LE |
| Burkina Faso | MER+FUR | Jul/23 | GIABA | LE | ME | LE | LE | LE | ME | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE |
| Brunei Darussalam | MER | Aug/23 | APG | SE | SE | ME | ME | ME | SE | ME | ME | SE | SE | LE |
| Côte d’Ivoire | MER | Aug/03 | GIABA | ME | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | ME | ME | LE | LE | LE |
| Lao PDR | MER | Aug/23 | APG | LE | ME | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | ME | LE | LE |
| Liberia | MER | Jul/23 | GIABA | ME | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE |
The findings of Côte d’Ivoire’s Mutual Evaluation Report of June 2023 have not been incorporated by the FATF into their latest Consolidated assessment ratings table at the time of writing.
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#### Technical Compliance Ratings
Note: Technical compliance ratings can be either a C-compliant, LC-largely compliant, PC-partially compliant or NC-non compliant. Changes are highlighed in bold & italic, representing either up- or downgrades compared to the last report date, as summarized at the right end of the table.
| Jurisdiction | Report Type | Report Date | Assessment body/bodies | R.1 | R.2 | R.3 | R.4 | R.5 | R.6 | R.7 | R.8 | R.9 | R.10 | R.11 | R.12 | R.13 | R.14 | R.15 | R.16 | R.17 | R.18 | R.19 | R.20 | R.21 | R.22 | R.23 | R.24 | R.25 | R.26 | R.27 | R.28 | R.29 | R.30 | R.31 | R.32 | R.33 | R.34 | R.35 | R.36 | R.37 | R.38 | R.39 | R.40 |
| ———————————————————————————————————————————- | —————— | —————— | ————————– | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——- | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– | ——– |
| Benin | MER+FUR | Jul/23 | GIABA | LC | LC | LC | PC | PC | LC | LC | NC | C | PC | LC | PC | LC | PC | NC | PC | LC | LC | NC | PC | C | PC | PC | NC | NC | PC | C | NC | C | C | C | PC | LC | PC | LC | LC | C | LC | LC | LC |
| Bhutan | MER+FURs | Aug/23 | APG | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | PC | C | C | C | C | C | LC | NC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | C | LC | PC | LC | LC | C | PC | LC | LC | PC | LC | LC | LC | LC | PC | NC | LC | LC | LC |
| Burkina Faso | MER+FUR | Jul/23 | GIABA | LC | LC | C | LC | C | PC | PC | PC | C | LC | LC | LC | LC | PC | PC | LC | LC | LC | PC | LC | C | PC | LC | PC | PC | PC | C | PC | C | C | C | PC | LC | LC | LC | C | LC | LC | LC | LC |
| Brunei Darussalam | MER | Aug/23 | APG | LC | LC | LC | C | LC | LC | NC | LC | C | PC | LC | LC | LC | LC | PC | PC | LC | PC | PC | LC | LC | PC | LC | PC | NC | PC | PC | PC | C | C | LC | C | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC | LC |
| Côte d’Ivoire | MER | Aug/03 | GIABA | PC | PC | LC | PC | PC | NC | NC | NC | LC | PC | PC | PC | LC | PC | NC | PC | NC | PC | PC | PC | LC | PC | PC | PC | NC | PC | PC | NC | LC | C | LC | PC | PC | PC | PC | PC | LC | PC | LC | PC |
| Lao PDR | MER | Aug/23 | APG | PC | LC | PC | PC | NC | PC | PC | NC | LC | PC | PC | NC | LC | PC | NC | PC | NA | LC | PC | PC | PC | PC | NC | NC | NC | PC | LC | NC | PC | LC | PC | LC | PC | NC | PC | PC | LC | PC | PC | PC |
| Liberia | MER | Jul/23 | GIABA | LC | LC | PC | PC | PC | PC | NC | NC | LC | PC | C | PC | LC | LC | NC | PC | C | LC | LC | LC | LC | PC | LC | PC | PC | PC | LC | PC | C | PC | PC | LC | PC | PC | PC | LC | PC | LC | LC | PC |
The findings of Côte d’Ivoire’s Mutual Evaluation Report of June 2023 have not been incorporated by the FATF into their latest Consolidated assessment ratings table at the time of writing.
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#### Benin’s 2nd Enhanced Follow-Up Report, June 2023
Benin has been taking steps to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts. They conducted assessments on terrorist financing risks and sectoral risk assessments for real estate and non-profit organizations. Administrative regulations are being drafted for AML/CFT sanctions and supervisory authorities in certain sectors. Benin’s efforts led to a positive re-rating of Recommendations 6 and 7 as „Largely Compliant“ but received a „Non-Compliant“ rating for Recommendation 15. While Benin has made progress in targeted financial sanctions, it lacks comprehensive guidelines for covered funds. There are also minor gaps in Proliferation Financing enforcement. Benin has not conducted risk assessments or established regulations for Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers, leading to a „Non-Compliant“ rating for Recommendation 15.
Three re-ratings were made.
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#### Bhutan’s 6th Follow-Up Report, June 2023
Bhutan has made substantial improvements in its financial compliance framework. Recommendations 4, 7, 34 and 40 have been upgraded to largely compliant status, signifying significant progress. However, minor gaps remain in certain areas, such as asset confiscation powers, supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), and international cooperation, leading to partial compliance ratings for Recommendations 8, 24, 28. Despite these remaining challenges, Bhutan’s efforts have resulted in noteworthy enhancements in its financial regulatory landscape.
Four re-ratings were made.
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#### Burkina Faso’s 4th Enhanced Follow-up Report, June 2023
Burkina Faso has made progress in addressing technical compliance deficiencies identified in the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) related to Recommendations 2, 28, and 34. As a result, Burkina Faso has been re-rated on these recommendations. However, moderate gaps still exist in Burkina Faso’s AML/CFT system, including the lack of specific provisions requiring the provision of information and supporting evidence to foreign competent authorities, limited scope of funds to be frozen, and deficiencies in the regulation and supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions. Due to these gaps, Burkina Faso is still rated PC on Recommendations 6, 7, 22, 24, and 25. Real estate agents and dealers in precious stones are not required to keep all relevant transaction records for at least five years after the completion of the transaction, and DNFBPs are not explicitly required to identify beneficial owners among their customers who hold a trust or legal arrangement.
Three re-ratings were made.
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#### Brunei’s ’s Mutual Evaluation Report, August 2023
Brunei has strengthened its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts since 2010 but lacks measures against proliferation financing. It excels in some areas, such as risk assessment and international cooperation, but needs improvement in others. Money laundering understanding is strong, but more work is needed to target key risks effectively. Coordination is good, except for proliferation financing. Financial intelligence usage is robust, but improvements are needed in investigations and asset tracing. Preventive measures rely on intelligence work, and financial sanctions are reasonably supported. However, Brunei lacks a framework for proliferation financing, and gaps remain in some preventive measures.
No re-ratings were made.
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#### Côte d’Ivoire’s Mutual Evaluation Report, June 2023
Côte d’Ivoire has made progress in addressing money laundering and terrorist financing through legal reforms and awareness-raising. However, challenges like a large informal sector and corruption persist. Authorities lack a detailed understanding of money laundering and terrorist financing methods. While some success has been achieved in prosecutions and confiscations, improvements are needed. Terrorist financing prosecutions are low, and targeted financial sanctions implementation is inadequate. Supervisory activities need enhancement, and financial institutions vary in their risk understanding. The country faces a high terrorist financing risk. The mutual evaluation found that Côte d’Ivoire was not fully compliant with any Recommendation. It was largely compliant with 6, partially compliant with 18, non-compliant with 24, and not applicable for 1 Recommendation. Additionally, the country received a „compliant“ or „largely compliant“ rating for 3 of the 16 key and core Recommendations, leading to its placement under accelerated regular follow-up.
No re-ratings were made.
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#### Laos’s Mutual Evaluation Report, August 2023
The national risk assessment of Lao PDR highlights significant gaps in understanding money laundering and terrorist financing risks across various sectors. There is a lack of coordinated policies and clear methodologies for assessing virtual asset service providers (VASPs). Prioritization of investigations and prosecutions related to key risks is inadequate. Implementation of preventive measures, supervision, and sanctions for AML/CFT compliance is deficient. Accurate beneficial ownership information is not consistently obtained. International cooperation for investigations and reporting entity supervision is lacking. Lao PDR faces ML/TF risks due to its proximity to higher-risk jurisdictions and weak controls, although it is not a regional financial center. Terrorism threats are low but vulnerabilities exist.
No re-ratings were made.
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#### Liberia’s Mutual Evaluation Report, June 2023
Liberia has conducted a comprehensive assessment of its money laundering and terrorism financing risks, but there are shortcomings in its understanding of these risks. The country has adopted a strategy to address these risks, but resource constraints hinder its implementation. Liberia has strong policy-level cooperation but faces challenges in using financial intelligence effectively for investigations. There are issues with identifying and recovering proceeds of crime, and counter-terrorism units lack capacity. Controls to prevent criminals from controlling financial institutions need improvement. Compliance with due diligence measures varies among sectors, and there are gaps in legal person risk assessment. Liberia has made some improvements in its AML/CFT regime but still has deficiencies in technical compliance with FATF recommendations.
No re-ratings were made.