[ACCI-CAVIE] Time is of the essence. Just two weeks after an FBI team arrived in Abidjan to investigate alleged Hezbollah funding, the head of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI) touched down in Côte d’Ivoire. Dr. Guy Gweth, a leading figure in competitive intelligence across Africa, led a vital training session on June 2 and 3, 2025, for 52 prominent members of the Federation of Evangelical Churches of Côte d’Ivoire (FECI) in the Ivorian capital.

This initiative is no accident. It’s a direct and firm response to the escalating threat of terrorist financing, money laundering, and corruption—scourges that are eroding the very foundations of African states and societies. Under its president’s visionary leadership, the ACCI isn’t just an informed observer; it’s also a key player in this quiet struggle.

The intensive, certificated training session, expertly organized by Salomon N’Dri (promoter of FEDEV) and personally led by Dr. Guy Gweth, was comprehensive. Over two days, FECI participants delved into the intricacies of due diligence: from precise definitions and complex risk typologies to identifying crucial monitoring areas and producing a rigorous final due diligence report. Far from a mere formality, this training provided essential tools to guard against deception and expose illicit financial flows that fuel terrorist groups and organized crime.

This marked the third such session since November 2024, highlighting a strategic and ongoing collaboration between ACCI, FECI, and FEDEV. These consecutive training programs aim to transform religious leaders and executives into vigilant sentinels and indispensable proponents of solutions. Their role now extends beyond the spiritual sphere to encompass the political, economic, and global governance challenges facing the Ivorian state. With their extensive social reach and moral influence, evangelical churches are becoming a vital link in the national defense against subversion and financial predation.

The ACCI’s expertise in this field is well-established. The Centre has previously strengthened the capabilities of teams within the Presidency of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, particularly during due diligence training sessions held in Ouagadougou and Abidjan. This ability to train the highest levels of government, local businesses, and multinationals, combined with empowering civil society actors like FECI, gives the ACCI a unique and critical position in identifying, deciphering, and addressing urgent African competitive intelligence matters with precision and patriotism.

By equipping FECI with due diligence tools tailored to African markets, the ACCI is doing more than just training; it’s initiating a movement where an informed and empowered civil society takes its rightful place alongside state institutions to confront threats that, if not contained in time, could plunge entire nations into chaos.

The Editorial Team