Dakar, Senegal – As Africa’s digital economy expands at an unprecedented pace, finance leaders, tax officials, diplomats and policymakers gathered in Dakar to address how fiscal systems can keep up.
The two-day International Conference on Taxation of the Digital Economy in Africa, held on April 15-16, placed an urgent focus on taxation reforms, regional collaboration, and capacity building.
Organized by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), with support from the governments of Senegal and Finland, the event brought together participants from across the world to explore practical responses to challenges such as cross-border digital transactions, inadequate legislation and limited institutional capacity.
Mamadou Biteye, executive secretary of ACBF, emphasized that Africa must modernize its fiscal approach to avoid being left behind.
“It is crucial to make a collective effort to jointly develop human and institutional capacities in Africa, while also mobilizing global initiatives to advocate for fair tax rights and strengthen knowledge-sharing among African countries,” he added.
The conference also marked the launch of ACBF’s BETA program – Building Excellence in Taxation and Administration – a capacity development initiative hosted on the Ubora Academy platform.
According to ACBF, the BETA program aims to equip tax officials, researchers and civil society actors with critical skills for taxing the digital economy and improving domestic revenue mobilization.
Discussion panels at the conference highlighted global case studies, including Ghana’s electronic levy and Brazil’s split payment model, as well as Finland’s legal and digital infrastructure for tax enforcement.
Participants explored how such models could inform African solutions tailored to the continent’s unique context.
The event concluded with a final resolution outlining strategic recommendations: strengthening legal frameworks, promoting regional cooperation, utilizing digital payment data and building tax literacy across sectors.
Representing the African Union Commission, Patrick Olomo welcomed the progress made and reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to supporting African-led efforts to shape global tax reform.
Cheikh Mouhamed Hady Dieye, speaking on behalf of Senegal’s Ministry of Finance, described the conference as a turning point. “This gathering sets the foundation for Africa to regain fiscal control and build lasting sovereignty in the digital age,” he said.
“We have at least agreed on one thing: No African country can go it alone when it comes to taxing the digital economy,” Biteye said in his closing remarks.
