Tunisia Reiterates Call for Recovery of Illicitly Transferred Funds at UNCTAD Session

Tunisia has placed the issue of misappropriated funds illicitly transferred abroad back on the international agenda. In Geneva, the country called for strengthened cooperation among states to enable developing nations to recover these assets and redirect them toward development projects, rather than resorting to further indebtedness.

This position was reaffirmed by Tunisia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, held from September 14 to 25, 2026, in Geneva. The UNCTAD has confirmed the holding of this session. In a statement to the Tunisian Agency of Press (TAP), Ramzi Louati, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Tunisian mission in Geneva, emphasized the necessity of effective cooperation among the states involved to facilitate the recovery of misappropriated assets. His role as Chargé d’Affaires of the Tunisian Permanent Mission is also confirmed by the United Nations Office in Geneva.

The issue carries significant economic weight: according to the position presented by Tunisia, the restitution of these funds would allow the affected countries to finance projects benefiting their populations, particularly in the fight against poverty, without further increasing their reliance on debt. Tunis has also requested that countries holding these assets not use procedural, judicial, or legal obstacles to delay their restitution. The Tunisian mission argues that such blockages complicate the exercise of the right of the concerned states to recover their resources.

Beyond the issue of misappropriated assets, Tunisia advocated in Geneva for a reform of the international financial system, aiming to make it more equitable and inclusive. This demand is closely linked to the debt challenges faced by many developing economies. In this context, Tunisia renewed its support for the adoption of a legally binding international instrument on the right to development, as well as for the strengthening of international cooperation and solidarity.