DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called on African anti-corruption and oversight institutions to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data mining, to strengthen the fight against corruption and financial crime.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud made the call during the 13th International Symposium of the Forum of State Inspections of Africa and Assimilated Institutions (FIGE), held in Djibouti from February 3 to 5, 2026.
Mohamud said corruption and illicit financial flows had become increasingly sophisticated, driven by digital transactions, virtual assets, and complex cross-border financial systems.
He argued that enforcement agencies must match this evolution with advanced investigative tools.
“The use of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data mining tools is essential to stay ahead in the investigation of crimes involving virtual currencies and complex financial transactions,” Mohamud said.
He outlined Kenya’s experience, citing progress under the Digital Super Highway initiative, which has expanded connectivity and e-government services.
According to Mohamud, these reforms have improved transparency, accountability, and service delivery across public institutions.
He noted that Kenya is among a small number of African countries that have enacted laws regulating virtual assets, positioning the country to adopt emerging financial technologies while mitigating risks linked to money laundering and other financial crimes.
Mohamud said the EACC has made significant progress in digitising its operations, with 58 P.c of its processes already automated.
He said the Commission remains on track towards full digitisation, supported by robust ICT infrastructure and a strategic digital transformation plan.
The CEO said the Commission uses internally developed digital systems to strengthen controls in resource management and applies digital forensic tools for the extraction, analysis, and management of evidence from electronic devices.
He added that wider application of AI would enhance the analysis of large datasets, improve the detection of suspicious transactions, and strengthen intelligence-led investigations.
Mohamud also announced that Kenya, through the EACC, will host the Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies and Research in Africa (CEREAC). The Centre is scheduled for launch in June 2026 during the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies of Africa.
He urged African anti-corruption agencies to utilise the Centre to develop locally driven, evidence-based solutions to corruption and fraud.
The symposium was held under the theme “New Digital Technologies Serving Audits and Control Institutions and Good Governance: What Contribution and What Limits.”
It was officially opened by the Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh.
Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Côte d’Ivoire Vice President Tiemoko Koné addressed the meeting via video link.
The conference brought together heads of state, inspection bodies, and anti-corruption agencies from 24 African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Representatives from the World Bank Group, the European Union Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and anti-corruption agencies from Hong Kong, Greece, Turkey, and the United States also attended, alongside academics and artificial intelligence experts.
The discussions reflected growing consensus that while digital technologies offer powerful tools for accountability, they must be matched with legal safeguards, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation to deliver sustainable anti-corruption outcomes.
