Tunisian NGO Manager Detained in Money Laundering Probe Linked to Migrant Activities

Arrest of Saadia Mosbah, Manager of “Tunisi Land of Asylum” Association

Tunis, Tunisia - In a high-profile money laundering investigation, Saadia Mosbah, the manager of the “Tunisi Land of Asylum” association, was arrested and detained for five days. The National Guard Financial Crimes Research Center in El Aouina carried out the arrest ¹.

Investigation into Money Laundering and Exploitation of Associative Activities

The prosecutor’s office at the Court of First Instance of Tunis ordered Mosbah’s detention as part of a broader investigation into the exploitation of social, associative, and professional activities for money laundering ¹. Sources close to the probe revealed that Mosbah is being investigated for using her humanitarian organization as a facade for money laundering ².

Crackdown on NGOs and Associations Suspected of Money Laundering

The Tunisian authorities have intensified scrutiny of numerous associations and NGOs, concerned about their revenue generation through foreign funding, primarily related to the migration issue ¹. This crackdown includes collaboration between the Police and Intelligence Units of the National Guard and the Judicial Police ¹. The allegations stem from suspected large-scale transfers of foreign currency from abroad, which raises concerns that these organizations may be exploiting the migrant situation for financial gains ².

Subheadings:

• President Saied’s Address to the National Security Council
• Assistance from the Tunisian Red Crescent
• International Collaborations

President Saied Addresses National Security Council

Earlier this week, Tunisian President Kais Saied confirmed the expulsion of 400 sub-Saharan migrants to Libya during his address to the National Security Council ¹. Expressing Tunisia’s intention to reduce the country’s role as a destination or transit country for migrants, Saied emphasized that the ongoing migration issue is unsustainable ³.

Assistance from the Tunisian Red Crescent

The Tunisian Red Crescent has been assigned to provide assistance to those affected by the expulsion ¹. In a reminder of the regulations and laws governing the presence of foreigners in the country, the public was urged to comply ³.

International Collaborations

In light of the evolving situation, international organizations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were encouraged to cooperate directly with the Tunisian state to effectively address the migrant issue ³.

Bullet points:

• Decrease in migrant arrivals in Italy
• Stats from Tunisian Interior Ministry
• Significant decrease since the beginning of the year
• Only 8,064 arrivals as of May 6, 2023
• 67.9% decrease compared to 2023

Migrant Arrivals Decrease Significantly

According to statistics from the Tunisian Interior Ministry, the number of migrant arrivals in Italy has dropped significantly since the beginning of the year ³. As of May 6, only 8,064 migrants had made the perilous journey to European shores, representing a 67.9% decrease compared to the same time frame in 2023, when 25,134 migrants had arrived ⁴.

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