Bryan EisebsaidFATF accepted Namibia has substantially completed its action plan
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“"The FATF accepted and made the initial determination that Namibia has substantially completed its action plan, which warrants an on-site assessment to verify the implementation of AML/CFT reforms," Eiseb says.”
Bryan Eiseb, director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)notedthat after two years of sweeping reforms, Namibia has remediated all 13 strategic deficiencies in its AML/CFT framework
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“In a statement issued yesterday, Bryan Eiseb, director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), noted that, after two years of sweeping reforms, Namibia has remediated all 13 strategic deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) framework that led to its grey listing in February 2024.”
Bryan Eiseb, director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)said that political and institutional commitments have yieldedpositive results in FATF Plenary meeting
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“Bryan Eiseb, the director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), said that the political and institutional commitments have yielded positive results in the just-ended FATF Plenary meeting held from 9–13 February 2026 in Mexico.”
Bryan EisebsaidFATF accepted Namibia has substantially completed its action plan for on-site assessment
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“"During its Plenary meeting, the FATF accepted and made the initial determination that Namibia has substantially completed its action plan that contained the 13 strategic deficiencies, and the country warrants an on-site assessment to verify the implementation of AML/CFT reforms," Eiseb said.”
Bryan EisebconcludedNamibia remediated all 13 deficiencies before May 2026 deadline
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“"Demonstrating the law enforcement agencies' capabilities to effectively investigate and prosecute ML/TF cases, Namibia has now remediated all 13 strategic deficiencies ahead of the May 2026 deadline, and the country will now be subjected to an onsite assessment by the Africa Joint Group (the Joint Group) as recommended by the FATF," Eiseb concluded.”
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku questioned whether outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa protected a person implicated in alleged corruption at the Ministry of Health in the so-called 'healthrot' scandal. Haufiku, who says he submitted evidence of alleged fraudulent procurement between 2016 and 2017 nearly a decade ago, suggested Noa may have failed to act because one of those implicated had a personal connection to him.
Former health minister Bernard Haufiku questioned whether outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa protected a person implicated in alleged corruption at the Ministry of Health in the so-called 'healthrot' scandal. Haufiku, who says he submitted evidence of alleged fraudulent procurement between 2016 and 2017 nearly a decade ago, suggested Noa may have failed to act because one of those implicated had a personal connection to him.
Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has warned that the public should not expect the ACC to secure convictions in every corruption case, saying the law and courts must take their course. Noa ended his 20-year tenure after helping establish the ACC in 2006 and handed over to incoming director general Bryan Eiseb.
The Namibian government and French company TotalEnergies remain in talks over the country's first major offshore oil project following the 2022 Venus discovery, with reported disagreements over licence period, international arbitration, taxation, the new petroleum law, and a stabilisation clause that would limit future legislative changes.
The Anti-Corruption Commission will mark a leadership transition on 1 October when founding Director-General Paulus Noa, who has served over 20 years, hands over to newly appointed Director-General Bryan Eiseb. The ACC describes the occasion as the beginning of "a new chapter" for the institution.
The Namibia Institute of Pathology recorded a profit of N$69 million in 2021/22, a 54% increase from the previous year, despite making an N$83 million provision for bad debts. Revenue grew 4.7% to N$839 million, supported by high volumes of COVID-19 testing, though the institute made a late 2022 annual report filing.
The Financial Intelligence Centre has appointed Zenobia Barry as its acting director effective 1 October, following Bryan Eiseb's reassignment to director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Barry, currently general manager responsible for legal, policy and enforcement, brings 31 years of professional experience and expertise in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks.
Opposition politician Imms Nashinge has questioned the legality of outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Paulus Noa's reported two-month tenure extension, arguing it bypassed Parliament and may constitute executive overreach. Nashinge says Parliament approved Bryan Eiseb as Noa's replacement and a one-year extension for deputy director general Erna van der Merwe in July 2026, but Noa's additional time was granted during parliamentary recess without parliamentary involvement as required by the Constitution and Anti-Corruption Act.
Financial Intelligence Centre director Bryan Eiseb says unexplained wealth should be treated as a warning sign of possible corruption and referred to law-enforcement agencies. Eiseb, nominated to succeed Paulus Noa as director general of Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission, argued that stronger anti-money laundering systems and attention to gaps between legitimate income and accumulated assets are key to preventing corruption and protecting public resources.
Namibia's new Anti-Corruption Commission director general Bryan Eiseb has prioritized unexplained wealth as a key corruption-fighting tool, arguing that lifestyle audits, asset tracking, and unexplained wealth orders could deter corrupt officials by preventing them from enjoying illegal proceeds.
At an African Ombuds Research Centre training, Dr. Bryan Eiseb argued that corruption prevention should be prioritized to improve service delivery, framing corruption as fundamentally a service delivery problem rather than solely a criminal justice issue.
Former Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa has advised his successor, Bryan Eiseb, to uphold the rule of law and resist public and political pressure, cautioning that public opinion should never dictate investigative decisions and warning against entertaining personal, material, or political agendas.
Members of Parliament have challenged the incoming Anti-Corruption Commission leadership to demonstrate independence and impartiality, with lawmakers warning that the institution's credibility depends on investigating corruption without fear or favour. Swapo MP Tobie Aupindi criticized the outgoing ACC leadership and alleged the commission had been weaponized to settle political scores and applied investigations selectively.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah nominated Bryan Eiseb as the new Anti-Corruption Commission director general following a prime ministerial motion; Parliament approved without objection. During the Assembly debate, urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa urged Eiseb to lead the institution "like a wolf and not a donkey," warning against allowing the ACC to be weaponised for political or tribal agendas and stressing the need for independent operation.
The National Assembly unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission while lawmakers across parties warned the institution must pursue corruption without political interference and shed its reputation for allowing politically connected cases to go unpunished.
Members of parliament will continue carrying out oversight visits and constituency engagements during the National Assembly recess from 10 July to 1 September, according to National Assembly spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa, who clarified that the recess should not be interpreted as a break from parliamentary duties. The third session approved Bryan Eiseb's nomination as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, while appointments to the Electoral Commission remained unresolved.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.
Affirmative Repositioning MP Vaino Hangula backed the nomination of Bryan Eiseb as Anti-Corruption Commission director general and the extension of deputy director general Erna van der Merwe, but warned that public confidence in the ACC has eroded over two decades of unmet expectations, particularly following the Fishrot scandal, and pledged his party would subject the institution to close scrutiny.
Following Namibia's removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June, the EU has initiated an internal legislative procedure expected to result in Namibia's removal from the EU's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) list by the end of the year, subject to a European Parliament vote. The EU clarified that its financial crime monitoring jurisdiction list does not constitute sanctions or restrictions on trade, investment, or development cooperation.
The European Union congratulated Namibia on its removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June 2026, recognising progress in strengthening the country's financial system. The EU supported Namibia's implementation of the FATF Action Plan through capacity building to over 150 officials across law enforcement and justice institutions.
Paulus Noa, who established Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission from scratch in 2006 and served as its director general for 20 years, is stepping down with Bryan Eiseb nominated as his successor. During his tenure, the ACC processed over 7,500 corruption complaints and expanded to include forensic, intelligence, and anti-money laundering divisions.
Namibia has met all requirements to exit the Financial Action Task Force greylist following a plenary meeting in February, with the FATF accepting that the country has remedied all 13 deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework. An on-site assessment is scheduled for April, with results to be presented at the June FATF meeting.
Namibia's removal from the Financial Action Task Force's grey list depends on an on-site inspection scheduled for April 2026 to verify that financial sector reforms are embedded and operational. The FIC says all 13 strategic deficiencies in Namibia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework have been remedied, with the Africa Joint Group's assessment to determine whether these reforms are effectively implemented in practice.
The Financial Action Task Force accepted that Namibia has substantially completed its 13-point action plan to address strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework ahead of the May 2026 deadline. The country will now undergo an on-site assessment by the Africa Joint Group to verify implementation of the reforms, the final step toward exiting the grey list.
The Financial Action Task Force has accepted that Namibia has substantially completed its action plan addressing 13 strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework, with reforms including enhanced supervision, beneficial ownership tracking, and improved law enforcement coordination. The country now faces an on-site assessment by the Africa Joint Group to verify full implementation before potentially exiting the FATF grey list.