In October 2009, the President of the Republic of Burundi raised the idea of having a continental platform to fight corruption during the third conference of the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities(EAAACA) which was held in Bujumbura, Burundi. The idea was later taken forward by the same authorities at their Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi Kenya in November 2010

Consequently, during the first conference of the Heads of African Anti-Corruption Authorities which was held in Bujumbura, Burundi in June 2011 the need to have the Association was further emphasized in order to strengthen international collaboration to fight corruption in line with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AU Convention) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). During the meeting an Interim Steering Committee was constituted to develop the Association’s constitution, code of conduct and strategic plan

in Bujumbura, Burundi ; and confirmed the election of 9 members of the Executive Committee . The Association further mandated the Executive Committee to develop a strategic plan to determine the way forward for the Association .

The establishment of the Association is in accordance with the AU Convention and seeks to provide a platform for African countries to tackle corruption as well as reinforce and strengthen good governance across the continent. Furthermore, the existence of the AAACA is in line with objectives of the African Union to promote good governance, democratic principles, international cooperation, greater unity and increased solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa