Cotonou, Benin – African tax administrations are moving beyond implementing Exchange of Information (EOI) merely to comply with international standards and are now taking ownership of the agenda as a strategic tool for strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, according to African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Executive Secretary Ms Mary Baine.
Baine made the remarks on July 1, 2026, while speaking at the High Level Panel on Advancing the Tax Transparency Agenda in Africa, held during the 19th Africa Initiative Meeting in Cotonou, Benin.
She pointed to encouraging progress already being recorded across the continent. This includes growing demand for EOI capacity support, stronger legal frameworks for beneficial ownership transparency, increased use of EOI in tax audits, expanding implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), and stronger political commitment to the tax transparency agenda.
She noted, however, that important challenges remain. These include broadening political ownership, fully operationalising EOI within compliance and audit processes, strengthening countries’ capacity to effectively use AEOI data, and improving the effectiveness of the Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR) process.
Looking ahead, Baine outlined ATAF’s priorities for advancing the tax transparency agenda across the continent. Among them is expanding Africa’s Exchange of Information networks through the ATAF Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters (AMATM).
With trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) continuing to grow, greater tax cooperation among African countries will become increasingly important. AMATM provides a framework for all forms of Exchange of Information, joint audits and assistance in the recovery of tax debts.
Baine further identified strengthening political engagement, promoting inter agency cooperation, and accelerating the digital transformation of tax administrations to improve the effective use of data as critical priorities for the region.
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