Financial Crime World

Tunisia Takes a Stand Against Jihadi Threat: New Sanctions List Sheds Light on Local Extremists

Tunisia’s National Counterterrorism Commission (NCC) has released a comprehensive sanctions list featuring 107 individuals, groups, and entities linked to terrorist activities. This bold move demonstrates the country’s commitment to combating the growing threat of jihadism.

A Tool in the Fight Against Terrorism

The sanctions list went into effect on November 16, 2018, as part of Tunisia’s action plan agreed upon with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October 2017. However, it goes beyond what is strictly required under the FATF process, serving as another tool in the country’s counterterrorism toolkit.

Detailed Information

The list provides detailed information on each individual, including:

  • Name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Current address
  • Nationality
  • Current status (imprisoned, fighting domestically or internationally, or killed)
  • Reason for being on the list
  • Other relevant details

The list has been updated three times since its inception, with the most recent update featuring 107 entities.

Public Awareness and Outreach

Tunisian authorities have taken steps to ensure public awareness of the sanctions list by publishing frequently asked questions related to designations and freezings on their website. They have also conducted outreach to:

  • The financial sector
  • Accountants
  • Real estate agents
  • Other obligated entities

to apply the same methodologies when pursuing sanctions in various sectors.

Insight into the Tunisian Jihadi Ecosystem

The sanctions list sheds light on the Tunisian jihadi ecosystem, with many of the details provided not known publicly previously. Of the 107 listed entities:

  • 105 are individuals
  • One is an organization (Jund al-Khilafah, aka the Islamic State in Tunisia)
  • The other is an extremist charity that ran a children’s school

The list highlights the extent to which Tunisian jihadis have been involved in activities such as:

  • “Planting ideas of religious extremism and intolerance and hatred” in children
  • Financing terrorism
  • Fighting against Tunisian security forces

It also reveals that six individuals on the list have been killed since its inception, all of whom were affiliated with the Islamic State in Tunisia.

Demographics

The age range of those on the list is between 56 and 21, with an average age of 34 and a median age of 34. Most of those sanctioned are young adults, with almost 60 percent under the age of 35.

Hotspots for Recruitment and Activity

The data on where people are from and where they currently live points to:

  • Tunis
  • Ben Gardane
  • Kasserine

as hotspots for recruitment and activity. This information is consistent with past research on Tunisian jihadi networks, highlighting the importance of understanding local extremist movements in combating terrorism.

A Powerful Tool in the Fight Against Jihadism

Tunisia’s sanctions list serves as a powerful tool in the country’s fight against jihadism, demonstrating its commitment to addressing this growing threat head-on. As the global community continues to grapple with the complexities of extremism, Tunisia’s efforts offer a valuable lesson in the importance of targeted and comprehensive counterterrorism strategies.