CAIRO, Egypt: African tax administration leaders have gathered in Cairo, Egypt, for the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), seeking stronger domestic revenue mobilisation strategies to help countries finance development, reduce reliance on external funding and improve public service delivery.
Held under the theme, “The Revenue Imperative: Africa’s Path to Financing Its Own Development”, the five day meetings bring together heads of tax administrations, policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders to examine how African countries can strengthen their capacity to generate and manage domestic revenue.
The discussions carry significant implications for more than 1.6 billion people across the continent, as decisions taken by tax authorities influence government funding for schools, hospitals, infrastructure, social programmes and other essential public services.
Addressing the Ordinary ATAF Council Meeting in Cairo, Council Chairperson Dr Johnstone Makhubu said tax administration should be understood beyond the collection of government revenue, describing it as an important instrument for strengthening Africa’s ability to finance its own development.
He called for leadership guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu, with greater attention to service, collective responsibility and the development of strong institutions capable of responding to 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.”
The five day programme is addressing several issues shaping Africa’s revenue landscape, including international tax cooperation, illicit financial flows, taxation of the digital economy, tax policy reforms, institutional modernisation and the implementation of global commitments on financing for development.
The meetings opened with sessions of ATAF’s Technical Committees on Cross-Border Taxation, Exchange of Information, Direct Tax, Indirect Tax and Tax Administration. These platforms bring together specialists from member countries to exchange expertise, address common challenges and develop practical approaches to improving tax systems.
The 2026 Annual Meetings also include governance and statutory engagements, high level policy discussions and the 9th ATAF General Assembly, with attention directed towards turning policy commitments into practical measures and measurable outcomes for African countries.
Focus on tax transparency and information exchange
The Exchange of Information (EOI) Technical Committee also convened in Cairo as part of the annual gathering, with discussions focusing on strengthening tax transparency and cooperation between African tax administrations.
Welcoming delegates, ATAF Executive Secretary Mary Baine thanked member countries for their contributions to the Committee’s work. She welcomed Burkina Faso as a new member of the Committee and acknowledged Tunisia’s participation in an acting capacity.
Baine spoke about the importance of developing practical solutions that can inform national tax policies and improve transparency across member administrations.
She also pointed to ongoing cooperation between ATAF and the Zambia Revenue Authority to pilot an Information Technology solution for Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI).
The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the ability of African tax authorities to exchange relevant financial information and improve cooperation in addressing tax related challenges.
Reflecting on the ATAF Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters (AMATM), Baine described the agreement as a significant development for tax professionals and administrations across the continent.
“The AMATM is a tax person’s dream come true. Thank you for giving Africa the gift that is the AMATM.”
57 policy changes recorded across member countries
The contribution of ATAF’s Technical Committees to national tax reforms has also been reflected in 57 policy changes introduced across member countries since the committees were established.
Speaking at the Domestic Tax Working Group meeting in Cairo, Baine commended members for the progress achieved through their technical work.
The Working Group brings together the Direct Tax, Indirect Tax and Tax Administration Technical Committees, providing a platform for addressing domestic taxation issues and developing policy recommendations.
Baine urged members to remain actively involved in implementing proposed reforms once they have received approval in their respective countries.
She called for the technical recommendations developed through the committees to be translated into effective national tax policies capable of strengthening domestic revenue systems.
Egypt commits to stronger African tax cooperation
Egypt has also used its hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening engagement with ATAF and other African tax administrations.
Addressing the Ordinary Council Meeting, Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority, said her country was committed to contributing to the Forum’s work and expanding cooperation among African tax institutions.
“Guided by our belief in the importance of ATAF’s role, we have worked over the past period to reactivate Egypt’s participation and strengthen its presence across the Forum’s various mechanisms.”
Abdel Aal pointed to Egypt’s representation on ATAF’s Cross-Border Taxation and Direct Taxation Technical Committees as evidence of its renewed participation in the organisation’s activities.
She also cited the accreditation of the Egyptian Tax Authority’s training centre as a regional training centre for North Africa, creating an opportunity to support tax administration capacity development in the region.
Egypt’s signing of the Charter on Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality was another development she mentioned as part of the country’s engagement with the Forum.
She described hosting the 2026 Annual Meetings as the culmination of these efforts and a further demonstration of Egypt’s commitment to African tax cooperation.
Governance meetings shape ATAF priorities
Following the opening technical sessions, the programme moved towards institutional and governance matters, bringing together members of the ATAF Council, Joint Technical Committee, African Women in Tax Network (AWITN) Board and development partners.
The engagements provide an opportunity to assess progress, strengthen institutional cooperation and guide the Forum’s priorities in supporting tax administrations across Africa.
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