Over 1,000 compliance and risk officers to gather in Lomé in July 2026

In a globalised economy where trust has become the most valuable currency, Africa is accelerating its regulatory transformation. The Togolese capital will host the 3rd edition of the “Compliance and Risk Officers Meeting” on 8 and 9 July 2026.

This event, now a fixture on the continent’s professional calendar, is set to bring together over 1,000 African and European experts. Furthermore, this gathering in Lomé lays the groundwork for a crucial challenge for the continent: how to reconcile economic growth, international donor requirements and business ethics?

Compliance: the new shield for African institutions

Long seen as a secondary administrative constraint, compliance — or conformity — has become the strategic core of financial institutions and multinationals operating on the continent. This concept encompasses the arsenal of procedures designed to ensure that an organisation strictly adheres to laws and ethical standards.

From anti-money laundering units to corruption prevention, including the highly strategic protection of personal data and reputation risk management, compliance has become the mandatory key to reassuring markets.

If the subject is taking on such importance in Lomé, it is because Africa faces unprecedented pressure. International financial institutions and development partners are continuously tightening their evaluation criteria. For banks and public companies on the continent, having a robust compliance department is no longer an option to shine internationally; it is a sine qua non condition to avoid the axe of sanctions and maintain access to global correspondent banking lines.

Why choosing Lomé sends a strong signal

Hosting this thousand specialists on Togolese soil is no coincidence. In recent years, Togo has engaged in extensive reforms to clean up its business environment and modernise its legal framework, notably by aligning with the latest West African community directives. By transforming its capital into a hub for risk reflection, the country positions itself not only as a logistical facilitator but also as a leading actor in the quest for financial transparency in the sub-region.

Over two days, exchanges between European and African experts will allow them to compare field realities and standardise practices. Faced with shifting geopolitical crises and increasingly extraterritorial regulations, West Africa intends to prove in Lomé that it no longer merely undergoes global standards but rather trains the executives capable of applying them.