Ouagadougou: The Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism organized a training course on Wednesday at CENASA for individuals involved in the tourism sector, aiming to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the technical advisor to the Ministry of Tourism, Abdoulaye Dioni, emphasized the importance of establishing an effective system to tackle money laundering in the tourism sector, which experiences significant financial flows. The initiative is part of Burkina Faso's continued efforts to secure its territory against terrorism.

During the opening ceremony, Dioni highlighted the existence of international and national regulations designed to prevent the use of the tourism sector for legitimizing illicit funds. He explained that the workshop series would educate participants on these regulations, with trainers traveling to various regions to present the mechanisms in place to thwart financial support for terrorist groups.

The Director General of Tourism, Monique Ou©draogo/Ilboudo, stated that the training would cover several modules, particularly focusing on national legal frameworks. These frameworks, if adhered to, could help preempt issues related to money laundering and terrorism financing within the tourism industry. She also noted that a national structure has been developed to identify and address financial discrepancies, ensuring appropriate sanctions are applied to deter such activities.

The initiative encourages tourism promoters and staff to implement necessary precautions to prevent their involvement in money laundering or terrorism financing activities, reinforcing the country's broader security measures.