Tax experts call for a fair and just global tax system

By Monica MUEMA

Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) called for a fair and just global tax system at the 6th African Philanthropy Conference in Cairo, highlighting Africa’s leadership in reshaping global financial governance.

Held under the theme “The Crisis of Multilateralism and the Future of Global Cooperation in Financing Africa’s Development,” the conference convened thought leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to explore bold, African-led solutions to the continent’s financing challenges.

TJNA’s Executive Director, Ms. Chenai Mukumba, addressed the deep-rooted inequities in the global tax architecture. She emphasised that Africa loses nearly USD 90 billion annually through illicit financial flows (IFFs) a figure that surpasses the continent’s receipts in overseas development assistance.

“If we were to plug the loopholes through which we’re losing resources, we wouldn’t need to rely on aid. We are already generating these resources within the continent,”Ms.Mukumba noted.

She further challenged the outdated global tax rules that favor countries where multinational corporations are headquartered, rather than where they extract value.

In the digital economy, this imbalance is even more pronounced, with companies like Netflix profiting from African consumers without any physical presence on the continent.

“It’s time to shift taxing rights to reflect today’s realities. The African Group’s push to move global tax rule-making to the United Nations is a step toward a more inclusive and equitable system,” she added.

Beyond the plenary, TJNA’s presence was amplified through an engaging exhibition booth that showcased two flagship platforms, the Tax and Illicit Financial Flows Knowledge Hub (TIFF Hub) and the Anti-IFFs Policy Tracker.

These tools provide a continental response to illicit financial flows; they are based on African-led research, policy advocacy, and accountability.

The TIFF Knowledge Hub serves as a digital platform offering curated resources, toolkits, and learning materials while the Anti-IFFs Policy Tracker, allows countries to evaluate their progress in fighting IFFs across four key areas: policy, institutions, data systems, and interagency cooperation.