Experts and policymakers from across the continent have renewed their call for a fundamental strengthening of Africa’s domestic financing mechanisms as the region grapples with the enduring legacies of an inequitable global financial system. This call to action was voiced during the opening of the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit, held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The summit, themed “From Taxation to Action: Bridging Policy and Implementation in Public Financial Management in Africa,” has positioned itself as one of the most significant platforms for continental dialogue on fiscal sovereignty and policy coherence.
The gathering brought together a diverse mix of policymakers, economists, private sector leaders, and representatives of development partners to deliberate on Africa’s pathway towards self-reliance. The central concern of the summit revolved around closing the persistent gap between ambitious policy frameworks and the often slow or uneven implementation of fiscal reforms across African states.
In her opening remarks, Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), reflected on what she termed Africa’s “sovereignty paradox” — a struggle to achieve financial independence within a global financial order that remains structurally skewed against the continent. Haddadi observed that despite notable progress in policy innovation and regional integration, African economies continue to lose significant resources through illicit financial flows and external debt servicing.
According to estimates from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Africa loses more than USD 88 billion annually through illicit financial outflows, undermining its capacity to invest in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Haddadi emphasised that Africa’s vision of fiscal sovereignty must be underpinned by domestic resource mobilisation, enhanced transparency, and locally driven development priorities. “Africa’s development must be financed by African resources, guided by African priorities, and implemented through transparent, trustworthy systems,” she said.
Delegates at the summit further highlighted the importance of reforming domestic tax regimes, harmonising fiscal policies across regions, and strengthening institutional accountability. They argued that Africa’s fiscal policies often remain fragmented, creating inefficiencies and leaving gaps that enable capital flight and tax evasion. The consensus was clear: without addressing the structural biases embedded within the global financial architecture, Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development would remain constrained.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Revenues, Aynalem Nigussie, reinforced the call for pragmatism, urging African governments to move decisively from policy design to tangible action. She noted that achieving fiscal self-reliance requires not only technical reform but also the political will to ensure that fiscal policies translate into measurable improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. “Africa must ensure that the right implementation mechanisms are in place so that reforms yield tangible benefits for communities,” Nigussie remarked.
The summit discussions also touched on emerging fiscal challenges such as digital taxation, debt sustainability, and the fair management of natural resources, framing these as essential components of Africa’s financial sovereignty agenda. Participants underscored that while international financial institutions play a role in Africa’s development, genuine progress hinges on Africa’s ability to finance its priorities independently and negotiate its position within global economic governance structures.
As the three-day summit continues, participants have stressed the necessity of continental cooperation to ensure that Africa speaks with a unified voice in global financial negotiations. The Africa Think Tank Summit is not merely a space for debate, but an evolving engine for policy innovation — one that envisions a future where Africa is an equal stakeholder, not a peripheral participant, in shaping global financial norms.
By centring African agency and knowledge systems, the summit challenges linear narratives of dependency and underdevelopment, repositioning Africa as a proactive actor capable of defining its own fiscal and developmental destiny. In doing so, it advances a more nuanced, African-centred discourse that recognises the continent’s diversity, resilience, and intellectual sovereignty in the face of global asymmetries.
