Financial Crime World

Corruption in Tunisia: A Persistent Challenge

Introduction

The current state of corruption in Tunisia is a complex issue, with significant progress made since the Arab Spring revolution in 2011, but still a pervasive problem. This article will examine the key issues related to corruption in Tunisia and the efforts being made by the government to combat it.

Corruption: A Pervasive Problem

Corruption remains widespread in Tunisia, particularly in the public sector. Bribes are often demanded by officials for services or benefits, and corruption is prevalent in areas such as customs, healthcare, and education. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Tunisia ranked 75th out of 180 countries in 2020.

Bureaucratic Inefficiencies

The Tunisian bureaucracy is often slow and inefficient, creating opportunities for corruption.

Lack of Transparency

Many government transactions and decisions are not transparent, making it difficult to track and prevent corruption.

Patronage System

The patronage system, where politicians and officials use their power to reward loyalists with jobs and contracts, perpetuates corruption.

Weak Anti-Corruption Laws

While Tunisia has anti-corruption laws in place, they are often poorly enforced or weak.

Efforts to Combat Corruption

To combat corruption, the Tunisian government has established several institutions, including:

  • The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE)
  • The National Anti-Corruption Agency (INLUCC)
  • The Supreme Judicial Council
  • The Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Corruption Unit
  • The Commission Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

These institutions work together to prevent corruption, investigate complaints, and ensure the independence of the judiciary.

Sources

This article draws on a range of sources, including:

  • World Bank: Doing Business 2017
  • Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2017
  • US Department of State: Investment Climate Statement 2017
  • Natural Resource Governance Institute: Tunisia Governance Index 2017
  • ArabTrans: Arab Transformations Policy Brief: The Integrity of States: Corruption in the EU’s Southern Neighbours 2017
  • Middle East Eye: “‘Letting Go of Every Principle’: Tunisia’s Democratic Gains Under Threat”, 23 July 2017
  • African Manager: “Tunisa: 700 MD in Foreign Currency Seized with Barons of Smuggling”, 21 July 2017
  • Kapatalis: “Guerre Contre La Corruption: Nouvelle Pétition en Soutien í  Chahed”, 21 July 2017 (In French)
  • Carnegie Endowment: “Tunisia’s Risky War on Corruption”, 18 July 2017
  • New York Times: “Corruption Crackdown Intensifies in Tunisia, and the People Cheer”, 25 June 2017

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