Common African Position on Asset Recovery

In January 2015, the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted the Special Declaration on Illicit Financial Flows (Assembly/AU/Decl.5(XXIV) and therefore endorsed the findings and recommendations of the African Union/United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s High Level Panel Report on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa (High Level Panel Report).1 In addition, the Assembly resolved to ensure that all the financial resources lost through illicit capital flight and illicit financial flows are identified and returned to Africa to finance the continent’s development agenda and directed the African Union Commission, supported by Member States, to mount a diplomatic and media campaign for the return of illicitly acquired African assets