Tunisia Development Association is one of about 25,000 associations operating in various fields with a license from the government, and its name came to the fore in June 2022 after the authorities charged it with several accusations, including “laundering money illegally obtained from abroad,” the charge denied by the defense team. Association.

In the context of this case, the head of the Ennahda Movement, Rached Ghannouchi, and others were referred for investigation, and this comes in light of a raging political struggle between President Kais Saied, who holds all powers, and opposition forces accusing him of seeking to establish a dictatorial regime through a new constitution that re-established the presidential system and granted the president broad powers and immunity from accountability. during the performance of his duties.

Establishment and character

The Tunisia Development Association was established in March 2011 within the framework of the associations decree during the government of Mohamed Ghannouchi, which took power after the revolution that overthrew former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The association - according to its defense body - is not charitable, but rather a developmental, non-profit organization that is active in the field of economic projects of a social nature, especially providing job opportunities for young people.


Activity and goals

Tunisia Development Association set its goals as follows:

  • Promoting economic development in Tunisia through partnerships concluded with associations in China, France, and Arab countries, some of which are Gulf states.

  • Creating opportunities for the unemployed through commercial projects, and helping recent university graduates to find work and implement economic projects.

  • Providing advisory services in activating economic initiatives and small development projects.

  • Attracting investors and experts from home and abroad with the aim of launching economic projects that provide jobs, especially in priority areas.

Funding sources

In a press conference held on July 12, 2022, the defense team of the Tunisian Development Association confirmed that the association did not receive any funding from abroad, and that its funds come from the contributions of members and from the economic forums it organizes.

The commission also denied what a spokeswoman for the Judicial Council specialized in combating terrorism said that the association had received between 2011 and 2021 funds worth 20 million dinars ($6.3 million).

The lawyer described the money that was in the association's bank account until the start of its prosecution before the judiciary as "trivial", noting that the association's financial statements are listed with the Presidency of the Government.

The defense staff also confirmed that the association sends its financial reports periodically to the prime minister, and that it works within the framework of full transparency.

accusations and accusations

In late June 2022, the Public Prosecution Office of the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Council indicted current and former officials of the Tunisian Development Association “for crimes related to money laundering and laundering and suspected of financing persons or organizations linked to terrorism, whether inside or outside Tunisian territory.”

In turn, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior accused the association of receiving foreign funds and striking state security.

The defense team responded - in a press conference - that the accusations were politically motivated, stressing that none of the politicians who were referred for investigation in this case had anything to do with the association.

According to this body, the case was raised based on what it called a "slander" by what is known as the "Committee for the Defense of the Two Martyrs", Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi, two opponents who were assassinated in 2013 by militants described as extremists when the Ennahda movement was leading a coalition government.

In addition to officials in the Nama Association, the investigations into this case include more than 30 people, including the head of the Ennahda movement Rashid Ghannouchi, his son Moaz and his son-in-law, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdel Salam.

On July 19, 2022, Ghannouchi - in the presence of his lawyer - underwent a lengthy investigation at the Anti-Terrorism Judicial Complex in the Tunisian capital, and left the headquarters in a state of release.

Prior to that, former Prime Minister Hamadi al-Jabali was arrested in late June 2022 for a period of 4 days, before he was released while keeping him pending investigations.

The investigative judge in charge of the Nama Association case had issued a decision to freeze the funds of a number of defendants in the Namaa case, including Ghannouchi and some members of his family and Jebali.

In turn, the Central Bank issued a decision earlier to freeze the balances and accounts of Ghannouchi and 9 others, including those close to him, in addition to Jebali, the resigned leader of the Ennahda movement.

The Ennahda movement, which is described as the most prominent opponent of President Kais Saied, denies any links to Ghannouchi with the association, and accuses the authorities of fabricating charges for political reasons.