ATAF

The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) is a platform to promote and facilitate mutual cooperation among African Tax Administrations.

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

From Cairo to Action: The 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings Conclude

After five days of discussions on Africa's path to financing its own development, the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings concluded in Cairo with a focus on translating commitments into measurable results.

ATAF Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine outlined the priorities ahead, including strengthening accountability for domestic revenue mobilisation commitments, advancing Africa's position in international tax cooperation and measuring progress towards ATAF's ambition to double its impact by 2030.

Host Egyptian Tax Authority Head Ms Rasha Abdel Aal highlighted Egypt's renewed engagement with ATAF, including its election to the Council, and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and capacity building.

ATAF Vice-Chairperson and ZIMRA Commissioner General Ms Regina Chinamasa urged member administrations to apply the lessons from Cairo, strengthen partnerships and translate the discussions into practical improvements in taxpayer services and compliance.

We thank Egypt for hosting, and all our members, partners and delegates for contributing to the meetings.

The discussions have concluded, but the work of strengthening Africa's capacity to finance its own development continues.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗙 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴

The 9th ATAF General Assembly, held on 4 November 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, alongside the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings, elected a new Council to lead the Forum for the 2026–2028 term.

The composition of the ATAF Council for 2026–2028 is as follows:
· Namibia | Chairperson: Mr Sam Shivute
· Zimbabwe | Vice-Chairperson: Ms Regina Chinamasa
· South Africa | Host Country: Dr Johnstone Makhubu
· Egypt: Dr Rasha Abdel Aal
· Benin: Mr Erick Maxime Mensah Akakpo-Djihountry
· The Gambia: Mr Yankuba Darboe
· Gabon: Ms Édith Laure Oyaya-Mbiguidi
· Tanzania: Mr Yusuph Juma Mwenda
· Mauritius: Mr Rohit Ramnawaz
· Zambia: Mr Dingani Banda
· ATAF | Ex officio member: Ms Mary Baine, Executive Secretary

The role of the Council includes providing strategic leadership and oversight to ensure that ATAF's priorities and programmes remain responsive to the needs of its member countries, while supporting stronger and more effective tax administrations, enhanced domestic revenue mobilisation and Africa's priorities in regional and international tax cooperation.

We congratulate the new Council and look forward to working together to advance ATAF's mandate and Africa's domestic resource mobilisation agenda.

#ATAF #ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

What makes a revenue administration effective beyond the taxes it collects?

At the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo, three country experiences offered valuable lessons:

🇿🇦 Dr Johnstone Makhubu (South Africa) highlighted the importance of institutional integrity, taxpayer trust and service quality, noting that public trust in SARS rose from 48% to 75%.

🇨🇳 Mr Jun Wang (China) shared how big data is transforming taxpayer services, compliance management and internal oversight, with over 85% of business items supporting automatic pre-filling.

🇫🇮 Ms Eira Karppinen (Finland) demonstrated how digitalisation and connected systems simplify tax reporting, reduce errors and improve efficiency.

The message for African tax administrations: sustainable revenue performance requires capable institutions, smarter systems and taxpayer trust.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #TaxAdministration

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

As the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo examine Africa’s path to financing its own development, Liberia offers a practical example of what sustained reforms and partnerships can achieve.

In this interview, LRA Commissioner General Mr James Dorbor Jallah reflects on the journey to this milestone, the reforms behind it and how collaboration with ATAF in areas such as tax audits, transfer pricing and exchange of information has supported Liberia’s revenue mobilisation efforts.

Watch the interview below.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #Liberia #DomesticResourceMobilisation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

Four days of exchanges at the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo have brought one question into sharper focus: how do we turn commitments into measurable results for African countries?

As the meetings enter their final day, attention shifts to the institutions and capabilities needed to deliver meaningful tax reforms.

Today's discussions draw on country experiences to examine how stronger revenue administrations, effective use of data and technology, and investment in people can turn tax policies into practical results.

The challenge goes beyond agreeing on reforms. It is about building the capacity to implement them, sustain progress and measure their impact.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

H.E. Ramy Youssef Delivers Keynote on UN Tax Convention Negotiations at #ATAFAnnualMeetings2026

1928: An engineer travels to another country to deliver a service, establishing a physical presence that gives the country a basis to tax the income.

2026: The same service can be delivered digitally from abroad, without any physical presence.

2040: Artificial intelligence could deliver similar services in minutes, further transforming how economic value is created.

H.E. Ramy Youssef, Egypt’s Deputy Minister of Finance for Tax Policy and Reforms, used this comparison during his keynote in Cairo to illustrate why international tax rules must evolve with the global economy.

Digitally deliverable services exports reached USD 5.5 trillion globally in 2025, yet research cited during his address indicates that 78.5% of cross-border services imports covered by the analysis face treaty restrictions on taxation in the country where they are consumed.

The stakes are significant. Research suggests that proposed UN rules for taxing cross-border services could generate USD 193 billion in additional annual government revenue globally under an illustrative scenario involving universal implementation.

“The forum is only the means. What is at stake is the tax base of the future.”

#UNTaxConvention #InternationalTaxCooperation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

The official opening ceremony of the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo brought together over 450 delegates, including ministers, heads of tax administrations, policymakers and development partners, setting the stage for discussions on the choices, reforms and partnerships needed to strengthen Africa’s ability to finance its own development.

From assessing progress on the Compromiso de Sevilla to sharing country experiences in domestic revenue mobilisation, the conversations went beyond commitments to the practical question of delivery: what needs to change, who needs to act and how progress should be measured.

The exchanges, the perspectives and the people shaping Africa’s revenue agenda — captured in our Day 3 highlights.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #Africa

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

The Gambia's tax-to-GDP ratio rose from 9.8% in 2020 to approximately 13% by the end of 2025. Building on this progress, the country has adopted its first Domestic Resource Mobilisation Strategy (2026–2030), targeting an additional 3.21 percentage points of GDP in revenue.

The strategy includes electronic tax registration, filing and payments, e-VAT invoicing, improved tax expenditure management and stronger coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Gambia Revenue Authority.

Sharing these experiences during his keynote address at the #ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 in Cairo, The Gambia's Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita, emphasised the importance of nationally owned reforms, predictable international support and measurable results.

He also called for an African accountability framework, drawing on ATAF's African Tax Outlook, to track progress on the Compromiso de Sevilla commitments.

“Let us therefore measure commitments, fund priorities, verify results and deliver on the promises we have made.”

#CompromisoDeSevilla #DomesticResourceMobilisation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

Sixteen months after the adoption of the Compromiso de Sevilla, discussions at the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo assessed progress on commitments to strengthen Africa’s domestic revenue mobilisation.

Following a keynote address by Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of The Gambia, ATAF Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine moderated a panel featuring:

• H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, African Union Commission
• Dr Johnstone Makhubu, SARS Commissioner and ATAF Council Chairperson
• Hon. Jeneba Kpaka-Bangura, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Ms Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority
• Mme Talato Eliane Djiguemde-Ouedraogo, Director General of Taxes, Burkina Faso
• Ms Emily Muyaa, UN DESA
The discussions examined how commitments to double international support for domestic revenue mobilisation by 2030, strengthen tax transparency and advance international tax cooperation can translate into measurable results for African countries.
#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #CompromisoDeSevilla

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

“How will Africa finance its future? Domestic resource mobilisation becomes vital as we move forward. It’s about strengthening Africa’s capacity and institutions.”

At the ATAF Annual Meetings 2026 in Cairo, ATAF Council Chairperson Dr Johnstone Makhubu highlighted domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) as central to financing Africa’s development and building strong, capable institutions.

He called for shared responsibility among African tax administrations, governments and development partners, emphasising that support must respond to country priorities and strengthen the capacity to deliver results.

Dr Makhubu also stressed that revenue collection is a means, not an end. Its true measure lies in improving people’s lives through public services and development outcomes that build trust between citizens and the state.

His message was clear: Africa’s path to financing its future depends on African ownership, stronger institutions, collective action and accountability.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐅, 𝐇𝐀𝐔𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐍𝐔-𝐖𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚

On 3 November, at #ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 in Cairo, ATAF, HAUS and UNU-WIDER launched the African–Finnish Partnerships on Taxation and Digital Transformations (AFP-TDT) programme.
Funded by Finland with €3.7 million for 2026–2029, the programme will support African tax administrations in developing secure, effective and interoperable digital tax systems.

Through the ATAF Innovation Hub, it will combine technical assistance, knowledge exchange and applied research, while promoting African-developed digital solutions that can be adapted and scaled across member countries.

ATAF Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine commended Finland for translating commitments into concrete action, recognising the achievements of previous African–Finnish cooperation projects and the country's continued support for stronger tax administrations.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DigitalTransformation #DomesticResourceMobilisation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

H.E. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, Arab Republic of Egypt (@MofEgypt) officially opened the ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo highlighting that success is not only measured in revenue collected but in that the tax system has to be comprehensive.

He stressed the significance of policies being used as effective tools in achieving development. "It's important to generate revenue but it's not enough because policy has to be created to achieve growth and push fiscal growth," The Ministr noted.

H.E. Kouchouk reminded governments of their "huge responsibility to protect the rights of tax payers", adding that gaining the trust of tax payers is something that cannot be taken for granted.

The 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo, hosted by the Egyptian Tax Authority, has brought together more than 450 participants from across Africa and beyond, including ministers, heads of tax administrations, policymakers, academics and civil society representatives.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration #Africa #ATAFAM2026

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

“The why is settled. This week is about the how.”

At the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo, Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine called on African tax administrations and development partners to translate international commitments into measurable revenue outcomes.

With Africa's average tax-to-GDP ratio at around 15%, declining development assistance, rising debt obligations and illicit financial flows continue to constrain the continent's ability to finance its development.

Drawing on lessons from the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and renewed commitments under the Compromiso de Sevilla, she called for country-owned priorities, coordinated support and measurable results.

Through the Revenue Action for Development in Africa (RADA), ATAF aims to double the impact of its collective work with member countries and partners by 2030, focusing on increased revenue collection, reduced leakages and stronger tax institutions.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #RADA #DomesticResourceMobilisation

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

Strong tax systems are not measured by revenue collection alone. Their effectiveness also depends on efficiency, transparency, simplicity and the trust they build with taxpayers.

This was a central message from Ms Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, as she welcomed more than 450 participants to the official opening of the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo today.

“The strength of any tax system is not only measured by the revenue it raises, but also by its efficiency, transparency, simplicity and the mutual trust it builds with taxpayers.”

Ms Abdel Aal emphasised that unlocking Africa's opportunities for growth and integration requires tax administrations to adapt to changing realities, invest in human capacity, strengthen cooperation and develop practical solutions to shared challenges.

“This is why ATAF matters,” she noted, recognising the Forum's role in bringing African tax administrations together to exchange experiences, develop practical solutions and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation across the continent.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration #Africa #ATAFAM2026

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

Yesterday in Cairo, the 2026 ATAF Annual Meetings continued with governance and statutory meetings, bringing together ATAF leadership, Council members, technical experts and development partners.

Discussions centred on ATAF's institutional priorities, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that its technical work continues to respond to the needs of African tax administrations.

Today, the focus shifts to Africa's broader revenue agenda, as more than 370 participants, including ministers, heads of tax administrations, policymakers, academics and civil society representatives, come together to discuss Global Commitments to African Revenue Action.

The discussions will examine how international commitments can translate into concrete action to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and support Africa's development priorities.

Watch highlights from yesterday's engagements.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxCooperation #ATAFAM2026

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

At the ATAF Annual Meetings in Cairo, Mr Nickson Omondi of the Kenya Revenue Authority highlights how ATAF’s technical support is strengthening tax administration.

The development of the Transfer Pricing Toolkit stands out among the areas of support, helping to enhance and consolidate Kenya’s transfer pricing framework. ATAF has also provided support on the development of a framework for taxing digital services.

This collaboration reflects the value of sharing expertise and developing practical tools to address evolving tax challenges across Africa.

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration #Africa #ATAFAM2026

[ATAF @ATAFtax]

The decisions made by Africa's tax administration leaders affect the lives of more than 1.6 billion Africans, from the financing of schools and hospitals to infrastructure, social programmes and other essential public services.

Speaking at the Ordinary ATAF Council Meeting in Cairo today, Council Chairperson Dr Johnstone Makhubu emphasised that tax administration is about more than collecting revenue. It is about strengthening the capacity of African countries to finance their own development, reduce dependency and improve the wellbeing of their citizens.

Drawing on the African philosophy of Ubuntu, he called for leadership grounded in service, collective responsibility and a commitment to building stronger institutions that serve the needs of African societies.

“Our responsibility is to leave that Council an institution that is stronger, priorities that are clear, risks that are visible, decisions that are well grounded and a mandate that can confidently be carried forward.”

#ATAFAnnualMeetings2026 #DomesticResourceMobilisation #TaxAdministration #Africa