Plenary 2025 FATF grey list changes: South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Burkina Faso removed
Plenary 2025 FATF grey list changes: South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Burkina Faso removed
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for Money Laundering (ML), Terrorism Financing (TF), and Proliferation Financing (PF), concluded its third plenary of this year on 24th October 2025, with key revisions to list of “Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring”. In this update, FATF removed South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Burkina Faso from the Grey List, recognising their progress in strengthening Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF) frameworks.
The FATF Grey List highlights jurisdictions identified as having notable weaknesses in their AML/CTF/CPF frameworks, helping Relevant Persons worldwide manage jurisdictional risks and stay compliant
Recent Updates to the Financial Action Task Force Grey List on 24 October 2025
The following are the updates made to the FATF Grey List on 24th October 2025:
FATF Grey List (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring) Revision: Removed Countries on 24 October 2025
The FATF has taken several countries off its Grey List, recognizing their progress in reinforcing AML/CFT/CPF frameworks. These countries are:
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Mozambique
- Burkina Faso
The Latest FATF Grey List as of 24th October 2025: Jurisdictions Increased Monitoring as of 24th October 2025
1. Algeria
2. Angola
3. Bolivia
4. Bulgaria
5. Cameroon
6. Côte d’Ivoire
7. Democratic Republic of Congo
8. Haiti
9. Kenya
10. Laos
11. Lebanon
12. Monaco
13. Namibia
14. Nepal
15. South Sudan
16. Syria
17. Venezuela
18. Vietnam
19. Virgin Islands (UK)
20. Yemen
Immediate Actions for Relevant Persons Following FATF Grey List October 2025 Update
Relevant Persons under the AML/CTF regimes of UK are required to be sound and updated with the cyclical developments in FATF Grey List. With every new change in FATF Grey List, the need to revise AML/CTF measures arises for Relevant Persons. The following actions should be taken to ensure compliance with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Policies and Procedures
Relevant Persons should align their internal AML Policies and Procedures with the latest updates of FATF. With South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso now removed from the FATF Grey List, update all risk assessment matrices and internal classifications to reflect their new status, revising risk ratings as needed based on relevant factors.
Reassess Country Risk Exposures
Relevant Persons should review their geographical risk exposure and update the Firm-Wide Risk Assessment (FWRA) to reflect the latest FATF Grey-Listed Countries. Recalibrate the internal risks matrices as per the changes in FATF Grey List.
While Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) remains important, note that these countries are no longer on the FATF Grey List. Standard risk-based checks can now be applied, but verification of Source of Funds and Beneficial Ownership should continue where other risk indicators exist. Senior Management approval should be obtained according to the updated internal guidelines.
Ongoing Monitoring
Monitoring of customers and transactions should be recalibrated to reflect the removal of South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso from the FATF Grey List. Ensure escalation procedures remain up to date and focus on jurisdictions that continue to pose higher risks, while maintaining proportionate oversight for all others.
Staff Awareness
Staff should be informed about the updated FATF Grey List, including the removal of these countries. Training modules and courses should be revised to incorporate these changes, ensuring teams remain aware of the evolving global regulatory landscape.
Compliance, Not Complexity.
FATF’s Grey List update means it’s time to revise your AML/CTF/CPF policies—we’re here to help!
