Tunisia president: 'State officials transferred billions in foreign aid to bank accounts abroad'

President of the Tunisian Republic Kais Saied announced on Friday evening that certain state officials had transferred foreign aid funds to their own bank accounts abroad, intended to be directed to the Tunisian State Treasury.

“Billions were earmarked for Tunisia but never entered Tunisia. A lot of money they received from abroad and then deposited it abroad and ended up in foreign banks,” Saied explained.

During a meeting with the Tunisian Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions, the Tunisian president indicated that those officials still talk about a government of national salvation in the media, despite their ten-year involvement in looting the state. Saied added: “It would have been better for the country to be saved from them.”

Last month, Tunisian media reported that Saied dismissed the Director of Intelligence at the Interior Ministry Lazhar Longo and temporarily assigned Muhammad Al-Sharif to replace him before appointing Sami Yahyaoui.