The 63rd meeting of the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) steering committee took place in N'Djamena, Chad, on November 4, 2026. The gathering brought together African public finance controllers to focus on transparency in African state debt and combating poor public resource management. The meeting coincides with AFROSAI's 50th anniversary, marking its founding in 1976 in Yaounde. The event was opened by Chadian Prime Minister Allah Maye Halina on behalf of the Head of State.
Prime Minister Halina emphasized the importance of quality in African countries' debt. He noted that public borrowing is not inherently a danger but can weaken economies and compromise development prospects if not properly managed. Halina called on supreme audit institutions to ensure that borrowing meets clearly identified needs and that mobilized resources effectively finance announced projects. He also stressed the need for independent public debt audits to guarantee credibility with citizens, financial partners, and international markets.
The Chadian government's concerns about governance were echoed by Prime Minister Halina, who emphasized the need to combat corruption and poor management with the greatest firmness. He cited the reinforcement of the institutional framework with the organic law n°007/PR/2024 on the attributions, organization, and functioning of the Court of Accounts. The N'Djamena meeting also raised questions about modernizing control bodies, with digitalization, data exploitation, and artificial intelligence requiring new audit methods.
AFROSAI President and Chadian Court of Accounts President Zara Ibrahim Mahamat Itno welcomed the mobilization of African institutions around expertise sharing and capacity building. She called for "audacious and innovative" recommendations to address the challenges facing these institutions. The N'Djamena meeting provided a platform for discussing ways to improve financial governance on the continent.
The meeting's focus on public debt oversight mechanisms comes at a critical time, with transparency, control, and accountability becoming essential requirements. AFROSAI aims to consolidate its role in enhancing financial governance in Africa. The organization's 50th anniversary marked a significant milestone, with its founding in 1976 in Yaounde.
The challenges facing African countries in managing public debt were highlighted at the meeting. The need for effective debt management and oversight was emphasized, with a focus on ensuring that borrowing supports development objectives. The role of supreme audit institutions in promoting transparency and accountability was also underscored.
The N'Djamena meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to improving financial governance in Africa. AFROSAI's efforts to promote transparency, control, and accountability in public finance management were recognized as crucial in addressing the challenges facing the continent. The organization's work aims to support African countries in achieving sustainable development and improving the lives of their citizens.
Key points
- AFROSAI convenes in N'Djamena to discuss African public debt transparency and oversight mechanisms.
- The meeting marks AFROSAI's 50th anniversary and emphasizes the need for effective debt management and oversight.
- The organization aims to consolidate its role in enhancing financial governance in Africa.
