AU and ATAF Strengthen Tax Cooperation in Africa

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) are collaborating to strengthen tax systems across Africa to address issues such as illicit financial flows, cross-border tax evasion, and aggressive tax practices. This initiative emerged from a meeting at the AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, attended by ATAF Council Chair Dr Johnston Makhubu and AUC Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Belobe.

The discussions centered on African-led strategies for enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, particularly in hard-to-tax sectors like extractive industries. A key focus was the implementation of the Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters, which aims to facilitate cooperation among African tax administrations through information exchange and joint tax examinations.

The AUC and ATAF also prioritized strengthening Africa's tax treaty networks and urged increased engagement with the private sector to improve tax compliance. The organizations aim to translate fiscal instruments into practical benefits for African countries.