Lesotho’s Revenue Chief Advocates for Stronger Continental Action on Illicit Financial Flows at ATAF Annual Meeting

Yesterday, the Commissioner General of Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), Mrs. Mathabo Mokoko, took part in a high-level panel discussion on addressing Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) during the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Annual Meeting in Algiers, Algeria. The session aimed to provide a consolidated view of IFFs across the continent, including scale, trends, and associated risks, while identifying priority areas for collective action under African Union and ATAF platforms.

During her presentation, Mrs. Mokoko highlighted the operational challenges Lesotho faces in enforcing anti-IFF measures and complying with international standards. She emphasized that smaller African tax administrations often struggle to translate policy commitments into concrete enforcement action. To address this, she outlined practical support mechanisms available through continental platforms, including capacity-building initiatives, knowledge sharing, and technical assistance.

Mrs. Mokoko stressed that a unified and well-coordinated institutional framework is essential to combat IFFs effectively. She also called for stronger civil society engagement to ensure transparency and accountability. Lesotho supports the establishment of a Pan-African Anti-IFF Coordination Mechanism and urged all stakeholders to commit to actionable, inclusive, and transparent implementation strategies.

The ATAF Annual Meeting, held from 3rd to 7th November 2025, operated under the theme “Embracing Efficient and Targeted Approaches to Equitable Tax Systems.” The forum provided policymakers and tax officials with practical recommendations to strengthen policy, enforcement, and the link between IFFs and Africa’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) financing needs.

Mrs. Mokoko’s participation reinforced Lesotho’s commitment to regional cooperation on financial transparency and highlighted the need for collective action to address illicit financial flows across Africa.