Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), International Development Economics Associates (IDEAS), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Economic Justice Network (EJN), has convened Africa’s leaders to chart the continent’s future by uniting efforts to tackle illicit financial flows and strengthen tax justice across Africa.
This is taking place during the 13th Pan-African Conference (PAC) on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Taxation, held from 7 to 10 October 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This year’s conference takes place at a pivotal moment for the continent. As African countries grapple with rising debt, constrained fiscal space, and growing development demands, the urgency to mobilise domestic resources has never been greater.
PAC 2025 also marks a decade since the release of the landmark 2015 High-Level Panel (HLP) Report on Illicit Financial Flows, which revealed the staggering scale of illicit capital flight from Africa. While significant progress has been made in strengthening tax systems and promoting financial transparency, persistent challenges remain, particularly as global tax reforms continue to unfold, often without adequate African representation.
“When the High-Level Panel (HLP) submitted its report in 2015, we sought to make visible what had for too long been hidden: the massive haemorrhaging of Africa’s resources through illicit financial flows. We showed that IFFs were not an abstract problem, but a very real drain on Africa’s capacity to finance its own development, provide social services, and build the industries and infrastructure necessary for our people’s prosperity.” said HE President Thabo Mbeki.
“A decade after the release of the High-Level Panel Report on Illicit Financial Flows, the conversation around IFFs is more urgent than ever. Despite progress in awareness and advocacy, the scale of financial outflows continues to undermine Africa’s capacity to finance its own development. We are at a critical juncture where words and commitments must translate into tangible action. This requires bold political leadership and accountability at the highest levels. We need champions from across the continent who will drive the implementation of the Panel’s recommendations, strengthen institutions, and ensure that Africa’s wealth works for its people.” Ms. Chenai Mukumba, Executive Director, Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) said.
“The challenge of combating IFFs has not disappeared since the HLP report and since the formation of the PAC. In fact, the numbers have increased over the years. At the same time, there have been multiple global shifts in international tax cooperation. The OECD Inclusive Framework and the Two-Pillar Solution have not fully allocated profits to source countries. African countries, though, have shown leadership in calling for a more inclusive international discussion through the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.” Ms. Mary Baine,Executive Secretary, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) said.
“There is a transformative shift underway, an inclusive process that is bringing all stakeholders together in the fight against illicit financial flows. If we want to finance our own development, we must combat IFFs across the continent and mobilise our domestic resources. Africa has the resources; what we need now is the political will.” Dr Patrick Ndzana Olomo, Ag. Director Economic Development, Integration and Trade, African Union Commission said.
Bringing together policymakers, tax administrators, academics, civil society, and development partners, the 2025 conference provided a platform to assess progress, share insights, and shape a renewed agenda for action.
Key discussions focused on the use of technology in tax administration, responses to emerging global tax standards, and regional strategies to curb IFFs and boost domestic resource mobilisation (DRM). The conference sought to foster collaboration, strengthen policy coherence, and galvanize collective efforts toward tax justice, financial integrity, and economic sovereignty across Africa.
More than a space for reflection, PAC 2025 is a call to action to reimagine Africa’s place in the global financial architecture and to ensure that the continent’s wealth serves its people, its development, and its shared future.