Africa · Country coverage

AML/CTF Compliance in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone regulates AML/CTF through its Financial Intelligence Agency under the AML/CFT Act 2024. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.

Last updated

Screening coverage for Sierra Leone
  • Sanctions & PEP screening
  • Adverse media checks
  • Customer identity verification
  • Jurisdiction risk checks
  • Ongoing monitoring

Key facts

AML supervisor / FIUFinancial Intelligence Agency (FIA) Sierra Leone
FATF statusGIABA member
Primary legislationAnti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act 2024
Overview

AML/CTF compliance in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act 2024, which replaced the 2012 Act, supported by its Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) — established as an independent body under the 2024 Act, though still commonly referred to by its former name, the Financial Intelligence Unit — which receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.

Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the FIA, alongside supervision from the Bank of Sierra Leone. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, sound internal controls, and staff training.

MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.

Regulation

Key laws and regulators.

All solutions →

Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's financial intelligence unit, established as an independent agency under the AML/CFT Act 2024 (still commonly referred to by its former name, the Financial Intelligence Unit). It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to law enforcement and competent authorities.

AML/CFT Act 2024

Sierra Leone's principal AML statute, which repealed and replaced the 2012 Act, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other reporting entities, and extending the regime to proliferation financing.

Bank of Sierra Leone

The central bank supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance, working alongside the FIU.

GIABA membership

Sierra Leone is a member of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, a FATF-style regional body, and aligns its regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.

Obligations

What regulated businesses must do.

  • Apply customer due diligence and identity verification
  • Identify beneficial owners of corporate customers
  • Report suspicious transactions to the FIU
  • Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
  • Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
  • Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ

Common questions.

Who supervises AML/CTF in Sierra Leone?

The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) — established as an independent body under the 2024 Act, and still often referred to as the Financial Intelligence Unit — receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports, while the Bank of Sierra Leone supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance.

What is the main AML law in Sierra Leone?

The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act 2024, which replaced the 2012 Act, sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for regulated entities in Sierra Leone.

Is Sierra Leone a member of FATF?

Sierra Leone is a member of GIABA, the FATF-style regional body for West Africa, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.

How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Sierra Leone?

MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.

Screen customers for Sierra Leone risk with MemberCheck.

Book a walkthrough with our compliance team and screen a real case in the first session.