TrustAfrica proudly participated in the 13th Pan African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (PAC2025), held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 7–10, 2025. This year’s theme, “Honouring a Legacy, Building a Future: A Decade of the HLP Report”, marked ten years since the African Union’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Illicit Financial Flows, chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, launched a continental movement to address the massive loss of Africa’s wealth through illicit outflows.
The original HLP report revealed that Africa loses over US$50 billion annually due to illicit financial flows (IFFs), with devastating economic, social, and political consequences. A more recent study by UNCTAD estimates the scale of IFFs at $88.6 billion per year, underscoring the urgency of the issue. Despite numerous policy recommendations, IFFs remain a persistent challenge across the continent.
Hosted by Tax Justice Network Africa (TJN-A) in collaboration with key partners, the conference placed tax justice at the heart of Africa’s most pressing economic and political challenges—including peace and security, industrialization, critical mineral governance, and the reconfiguration of global financial systems. These conversations centered justice, equity, and sovereignty, challenging extractive paradigms and reimagining fiscal policy as a tool for transformative development.
TrustAfrica’s Contributions
TrustAfrica’s Director of Programs, Briggs Bomba, spoke during the opening high-level plenary session, revisiting the landmark HLP Report a decade after its release. His intervention reflected on the report’s legacy, assessed progress made, identified remaining structural and political obstacles, and explored how the HLP’s findings have reshaped African and global discourse on tax justice, transparency, and financial accountability.
In a moment of symbolic significance, Dr. Ebrima Sall, Executive Director of TrustAfrica, along with a group of consortium members, met with President Thabo Mbeki. This meeting underscored the continued relevance of the HLP Report and reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing the fight against illicit financial flows across the continent.
A Night of Celebration
On the evening of October 8, TrustAfrica, in partnership with the Stop the Bleeding Campaign, hosted a vibrant reception under the leadership of Briggs Bomba. The gathering celebrated the efforts of civil society organizations in the fight against IFFs and provided a platform for sharing insights and lessons learned.
📢 TrustAfrica @TrustAfrica · Oct 9
Reflecting on Progress: A Night of Celebration at the 13th PAC on IFFs
🎉 Last night (Oct 8), @TrustAfrica & #STBCampaign hosted a vibrant reception at #PAC2025 under the leadership of @BriggsBomba to celebrate progress in the fight against illicit financial flows. 💪🏾
Together, we’re building a future of financial justice for Africa. 🌍 #StopTheBleeding #IFFs #TaxJustice
Looking Ahead
TrustAfrica remains committed to advancing financial justice across the continent. The 13th PAC was not only a moment of reflection but also a call to action—to build on the legacy of the HLP Report and continue pushing for structural reforms that will safeguard Africa’s wealth and sovereignty.
