Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs)

Event

Mar 31, 2026 - 09:00 - Abr 2, 2026 - 17:00

Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration (STC-FMAEPI)

THEME: “Building the Africa We Want Through Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms to Support Economic Growth and Domestic Resource Mobilization.”

Abuja, Nigeria | 31 March – 2 April 2026

Introduction

At a time when Africa is intensifying efforts to finance its own development and safeguard its economies, the Fifth Session of the Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) serves as a strategic continental platform for action-oriented dialogue and policy alignment. Convened under the auspices of the African Union, the session brings together Member States, Pan-African institutions, and key partners to strengthen tax systems, curb illicit financial flows, and advance domestic resource mobilization (DRM) as a cornerstone of sustainable growth.

Anchored in the implementation of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, the Fifth Session builds on the momentum and recommendations of the 4th Sub-Committee on Tax and IFFs and the 8th Ordinary Session of the STC-FMAEPI (Johannesburg, September–October 2025). It provides a critical space to consolidate African positions, share practical experiences, and shape collective responses to evolving global and continental tax reforms.

Hosting the Fifth Session in Abuja provides an opportunity for Nigeria, through the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), to contribute to continental dialogue on tax administration reforms and domestic resource mobilization strategies, while supporting collaboration among African tax administrations and institutions.

Previous Editions

Over the years, the Sub-Committee on Tax and IFFs has progressively shaped Africa’s tax policy discourse and strengthened continental coordination through its successive sessions:

4th Session (2025) – Held from 5 to 9 May 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia, under the theme “Advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063 Through Tax and Fiscal Policy Measures to Enhance Domestic Resource Mobilization”.
Link: https://au.int/en/newsevents/20250505/4th-sub-committee-tax-and-illicit-...
3rd Session (2024) – Held from 8 to 10 May 2024 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, under the theme “Strengthening Africa’s Leadership in the Continental and Global Tax Reforms”.
Link: https://au.int/en/newsevents/20240508/3rd-sub-committee-tax-and-illicit-...
2nd Session (2023) – Held from 31 May to 2 June 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Tax in Africa: Contemporary Issues Affecting the Continent”.
Link: https://au.int/sites/default/files/newsevents/conceptnotes/42811-CN
1st Session (2022) – Held from 6 to 8 April 2022 in Harare, Zimbabwe, in a hybrid format under the theme “Tax Incentives: Implication of the Global Tax Reforms for Africa”, with a focus on the impact of global tax reforms on African economies and DRM.
Link: https://au.int/en/newsevents/20220406/first-sub-committee-tax-and-illici...

Event Overview

The Fifth Session is a three-day high-level and technical convening designed to foster coherence between continental frameworks and national tax reforms. It emphasizes peer learning, policy coordination, and technical collaboration among AU Member States, while leveraging expertise from Pan-African and international institutions. Discussions will address priority tax and fiscal challenges, including the taxation of the digital economy, VAT reforms, cross-border taxation, and Africa’s engagement in ongoing international tax negotiations.

As host country, Nigeria will support the successful convening of the meeting through the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), working in collaboration with the African Union Commission and partner institutions to facilitate institutional engagement and coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Objectives

Through focused deliberations and expert exchanges, the session seeks to achieve the following objectives:

Examine and identify strategic tax policy and administrative reforms that can accelerate Africa’s structural transformation and support the attainment of at least middle-income status for all Member States per the Visions and Aspirations of Agenda 2063.
Assess progress in implementing recommendations from the 4th Sub-Committee on Tax and IFFs
Develop practical strategies to operationalize Ministerial decisions from the 8th STC-FMAEPI
Enhance African technical input into the ongoing negotiation on the UN Framework Convention, ensuring effective participation in negotiations by African negotiators involved in that process.
Ensure that Africa’s effort to influence global tax policies are aligned with African development goals and priorities and that African interest is embedded into global frameworks.
Seek avenues to leverage the work of AUC, ATAF, TJNA, UNECA and other Pan-African Institutions to further the continental agenda 2063
Identify innovative approaches to increase domestic resource mobilization in the digital age.
Strengthen coordination among African countries, various government institutions and partners on tax reforms, policy coordination and harmonization as well as international tax matters, including on cross-border taxation and IFFs.

Thematic Focus

The discussions will be structured around key thematic areas central to Africa’s fiscal transformation:

Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM): Strengthening tax policy design and administration
Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs): Detection, prevention, and asset recovery mechanisms
Digital Economy Taxation: Taxing digital platforms and multinational enterprises
Value Added Tax (VAT) Reforms: Modernization, efficiency, and compliance enhancement
Cross-Border Taxation & International Cooperation: AfCFTA, UN Framework, OECD/G20 processes
Beneficial Ownership Transparency: Regional data sharing and governance reforms

Key Speakers

The session will feature high-level policymakers, technical experts, and institutional leaders who will guide discussions and share insights across plenary and thematic panels.

Opening & High-Level Panel

Dr. Patrick Ndzana Olomo – Head of Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, African Union (Moderator)
Dr. Zacch Adedeji – Executive Chairman, Nigeria Revenue Service
Mr. Djamel Ghrib – Director, Economic Development, Integration, and Trade Department, African Union
Ms. Chenai Mukumba – Executive Director, Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA)
Ms. Mary Baine – Executive Secretary, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)
H.E. Mr. Claver Gatete – Executive Secretary, UNECA (TBC)
Professor Kelvin Urama, PhD – Chief Economist/Vice President (Economic), AfDB (TBC)
H.E. Mrs. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe – AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals
Representative of Eswatini – Chairperson, Experts STC Bureau
H.E. Adebayo Olawale Edun – Minister of Finance, Nigeria (Keynote Address)

Technical and Thematic Sessions

Ms. Luckystar Miyandazi – Tax and DRM Adviser, AUC
Mr. Thulani Shongwe – Head of Africa Multilateral Cooperation, ATAF
Emmanuel Eze- ATAF Senior Advisor to the African Union
Everlyn Muendo – Policy Advisor, TJNA
Dr. Gamal Eltaib Ibrahim – Chief, Economic Governance & Public Finance, UNECA
Chairs of Joint Technical Committees (Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa)

Expected Outcomes

By the conclusion of the Fifth Session, participants are expected to have achieved concrete and forward-looking outcomes, including:

Enhanced technical and negotiation capacity of AU Member States
Stronger coordination between Member States and Pan-African institutions
Consolidated African positions in UN and OECD/G20 tax negotiations
Clear and actionable recommendations to combat IFFs and boost DRM
Practical lessons drawn from country experiences on VAT, digital economy, and cross-border taxation
Improved dissemination and awareness of policy discussions and outcomes among key stakeholders across Africa’s tax policy and administration ecosystem.

Participants

The session will convene a diverse and high-level group of stakeholders, ensuring inclusive and informed dialogue:

Senior officials from Ministries of Finance, Tax Administrations, and Regulatory Authorities
Representatives of AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)
Experts from Pan-African institutions and development partners
Observers and contributors from international organizations, civil society, academia, NGOs, and investigative journalism

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Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM)

STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration

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Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM)

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