Papua New Guinea Added to FATF Gray List: Key Reforms Required to Strengthen Financial Oversight

Papua New Guinea has been added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) global gray list after the country was found to have gaps in its systems to prevent money laundering and illicit financial activities.

The FATF announced the decision following its February 2026 summit in Mexico City, calling on Papua New Guinea to strengthen financial supervision, improve suspicious transaction reporting, and enhance transparency on beneficial ownership information.

Authorities in Papua New Guinea have given high-level political commitment to implement an action plan aimed at strengthening the country’s financial integrity framework.

Meanwhile Governor Allan Bird on his official facebook page has made a sharp critic of the government. Bird stated that the Marape administration has now been officially recognised for its outstanding financial management and its dedicated efforts to support corruption and money laundering – an achievement marked by the prestigious awarding of the Grey Listing.

Bird went on to explain that this “PhD-level recognition” is normally reserved for the very best-performing countries in the world when it comes to enabling corruption and money laundering.

He concluded his comment with biting sarcasm: “Well done, Marape PANGU government.”