JOHANNESBURG - The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has signed a historical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in a bid to strengthen tax legislations in Africa and combat illicit financial flows (IFF).
During the first ordinary session of PAP’s fifth parliament in Kigali, Rwanda, the executive secretary of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), Logan Wort and the president of the Pan-African Parliament Roger Nkodo Dang, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The signing formalised cooperation between their respective institutions on tax policy and tax administration reforms on the continent.
Prior to the signing, Wort delivered a presentation to the Plenary on the correlation between Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Taxation and the collaborative role that the two institutions could play in addressing this issue on the continent.
These included capacity building and tax education for members of parliament through ATAF, a stronger advocacy role for parliamentarians on tax issues and domestic resource mobilisation in national, regional and continental fora.
This was in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the role of parliamentarians in enacting sound national tax legislation, as well as collaborative tax research initiatives between PAP and ATAF.
ATAF, which has been endorsed by the AU as the African voice on tax matters, considers sound domestic tax legislation and the development of expertise on tax treaties key. It, therefore, views PAP as a critical strategic partner given the oversight and advocacy roles of the parliament.
The MoU comes just days after the 5th Ordinary General Assembly of ATAF in Gaborone, Botswana, where participants explored ways to move Africa beyond aid. It is viewed by both signatories as a significant step towards stemming illicit financial flows, improving domestic resource mobilisation and funding Africa’s development.