WORKING GROUP 1
Conference overview
A continental meeting on a technical subject with public consequences
The General Assembly of the African Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Forum (AARP Forum) is a four-day meeting on recovering stolen assets and returning them to the people of Africa.
It positions Abuja as the point at which Africa moves from commitments on asset recovery to the practical implementation of the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR), strengthening the continent’s asset recovery architecture as a contribution to governance and development financing.
As the Forum’s governing gathering, the General Assembly provides strategic direction, governance oversight and a platform for collaboration to advance the Forum’s asset recovery objectives.
Background
The milestones that lead to Abuja
- 2020CAPAR adopted
In February 2020 the African Union adopted the Common African Position on Asset Recovery as a policy and advocacy tool to combat illicit financial flows.
- 2025AARP Forum launched
Launched in Nairobi in April 2025 to strengthen collaboration among Africa’s asset recovery practitioners.
- 2026CAPAR Reporting Tool
Designed to centralise information, track progress, monitor activities and measure results across institutions and stakeholders.
- 2025–26Regional trainings
Held in Chad, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.
- Nov 2026General Assembly, Abuja
Strategic direction, governance oversight and collaboration to take implementation forward.
Conference theme
“From Commitment to Action: Enhancing Africa’s Asset Recovery Architecture through Effective Implementation of CAPAR”
The theme marks a shift in emphasis. CAPAR already gives African states a common position on recovering and returning illicit assets; what remains is the harder work of applying it consistently across jurisdictions, institutions and legal systems.
“Architecture” points to the system as a whole — the detection, recovery, management and monitoring functions, and the cooperation between them — and to the reporting arrangements that allow progress to be tracked.
Objectives
What the General Assembly is for
Strategic direction
Set the direction of the AARP Forum for its next phase of CAPAR implementation.
Governance oversight
Agree governance arrangements, including Steering Council and Working Group arrangements.
Collaboration
Provide a platform for practitioners and institutions to strengthen cross-border cooperation.
Key thematic areas
The four Working Groups
Each Working Group carries its own colour accent across agenda pages, room signage and recap graphics.
[Working Group descriptions and mandates to be supplied by the Forum Secretariat]
Expected outcomes
Outputs that can be tracked after 20 November
Confirmed outcomes will be published here once formally adopted. Proposals and adopted decisions will be labelled as such.
- 01CommuniquéCapturing key decisions and recommendations.
- 02Roadmap and annual work planThe agreed follow-up actions, timelines and responsibilities.
- 03Endorsement of the CAPAR Reporting ToolConsidering the tool and modalities for tracking implementation.
- 04Member State and institutional commitmentsEncouraging stronger CAPAR implementation and reporting.
Organising institutions
Convened within the African Union
The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption, an organ of the African Union. [Role description to be confirmed by AUABC]
Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (PAPS), African Union Commission. [Role description to be confirmed]