Senate President Kalinda François Xavier (Middle)
Senate President Kalinda François Xavier urged regional leaders to use advanced technology and responsible innovation to fight money laundering and financial crime.
The Senate President attended the opening of the 26th ESAAMLG Council of Ministers Meeting held in Kigali, where leaders discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation and improve efforts to fight financial crime.
Addressing the meeting, the Senate President emphasised the growing role of technology in detecting and disrupting illicit financial activities. He urged countries in the region to harness advanced technologies, data analytics and artificial intelligence to improve their ability to identify emerging risks and trace suspicious financial flows.
“We should harness advanced technologies, data analytics, artificial intelligence and responsible innovation to strengthen our ability to identify risks, follow financial trails and disrupt illicit networks.”
However, Xavier cautioned that technological advancement must be accompanied by safeguards to prevent misuse and protect fundamental rights.
“Technology and artificial intelligence must remain our servant, not our master.”
He stressed the importance of accountability, transparency and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, particularly as financial institutions and law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on digital tools to detect and respond to financial crime.
The meeting comes as countries across the region continue to strengthen cooperation against money laundering and other forms of illicit finance, which often operate across national borders and require coordinated responses.
The 26th ESAAMLG Council of Ministers Meeting provides a platform for regional leaders and stakeholders to assess progress, share strategies and reinforce collective efforts to protect the integrity of financial systems across Eastern and Southern Africa. (End)