African Churches Urged to Speak Out against Unjust Tax Systems

Aboard the papal plane, 13 November, 2025 / 3:06 PM

The National Coordinator for Human Rights and Citizenship of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) has called on African Churches to raise their voices in defense of tax justice, warning that unjust taxation systems are deepening inequality and poverty across the continent.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the Third Session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for a Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, underway in Nairobi, Kenya, António Filipe Augusto emphasized that the Church has a decisive role to play as the moral conscience of the people.

“My appeal to the Church is to raise her voice against evil and to advocate for justice. This injustice must end. The Church must speak up—not only here at this convention but permanently—so that there is accountability both in the collection and use of taxes,” he told ACI Africa on Wednesday, November 12.

He lamented that in many African countries, “the poor pay taxes on everything, but the destination of the money collected is often unknown.”

“Instead of being invested in schools, hospitals, and social services, the money disappears. Much of it remains in the hands of tax collectors, while politicians use it for other purposes,” Mr. Augusto added.

According to him, the current international taxation framework “was designed when many of today’s signatory countries were still colonies and therefore had no voice or participation in its drafting.” 

For that reason, he said, “it is time for African countries to be heard, as they are the ones most affected by the injustices of the current tax systems.”

The November 10-20 conference, being held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, opened with an ecumenical service attended by representatives of various Christian denominations. 

Mr. Augusto said, “The Church must remain united, ecumenically, to demand fairness in tax collection and distribution. African voices must not be silenced, because it is the poorest populations who suffer most from unjust tax burdens.”

The CEAST delegate noted that this spiritual and solidarity-based dimension strengthens the role of Churches as part of organized civil society.

“When Churches unite, their voice becomes stronger before political decision-makers,” he affirmed.

Representing CEAST and the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Angola, Augusto said the Nairobi meeting responds to a deep call for justice, inclusion, and transparency.

“We are here to help improve the current draft, but it is crucial that this convention brings real change, not just speeches,” he said.

Mr. Augusto added that “the future of global tax justice depends on a new ethical and solidarity-based pact, where taxes truly serve the common good and not inequality.”

The CEAST delegate urged Churches to remain steadfast in their advocacy for ethical, transparent, and people-centered fiscal systems.

“The future of tax justice depends on a new ethical and solidarity-based pact,” he said, adding, “Taxes should serve the common good—not be instruments of inequality.”