Odious Debt, Illicit Financial Flows and Africa's Tax Justice Agenda

Closing the revolving door: odious debt, illicit financial flows and Africa’s tax justice agenda

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We will host this side session at the 14th Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (PAC 2026) in Dakar, Senegal.

The session will examine how odious sovereign debt and illicit financial flows (IFFs) reinforce one another, undermining Africa’s fiscal sovereignty and diverting resources from public needs and development. It will also explore AFRODAD’s reconceptualised Odious Debt Doctrine as a framework for strengthening accountability in sovereign borrowing and lending. The discussions will consider practical ways to prevent illegitimate debt, curb debt-related IFFs and advance Africa’s tax justice agenda. Participants will also identify opportunities to connect debt justice with ongoing continental and global processes, including the proposed UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt, the UN Tax Convention negotiations and the African Union’s Common Position on debt under the Lomé Declaration. By bringing debt justice and tax justice into the same conversation, the session aims to develop practical recommendations and strengthen coordinated African action on sovereign debt reform, IFFs and international tax cooperation.

To learn more, find the concept note! 

Click here to join the session virtually.