Tunisia highlighted by IMF for consultation delays
Tunisia, along with four other African countries, have been highlighted by the International Monetary Fund for continuous delays in completing their mandatory Article IV consultations, according to the Moroccan government-friendly outlet North Africa Post on August 19th.
Article IV consultations are annual economic assessments conducted by IMF staff to evaluate a country’s macroeconomic policies, fiscal stability, and governance. Ultimately, for countries such as Tunisia looking to welcome foreign investment, these assessments are critical for guiding investor confidence.
The other African nations flagged by the IMF are Sudan, Eritrea, Liberia and Senegal, who sit amongst a group of 13 countries globally reported.
As it stands, Tunisia’s delay sits at 39 months, with authorities formally requesting a postponement due to domestic political and economic challenges.
Whilst Tunisia is experiencing a current tourist boom that the government attributes to newfound stability, the economy is still riddled with significant flaws that are reflected through Tunisia’s debt problems and structural issues within the banking sector.
The upcoming strategy of engaging the Tunisian diaspora and encouraging their investment in Tunisia is one component in a five-year development strategy rooted in economic stability, but it is clear that these positives are papering over the cracks.
Continued delays in these processes with the IMF can hinder access to its financial instruments and those of other institutions like the World Bank, whom for Tunisia have been important to combating food insecurity in the country.
In addition to restricting development funds, delays can also complicate debt restructuring efforts and amplify the political battles of a government struggling with economic governance.
However, this list from the IMF is not intended to be punitive, but it can be an effective pressure point in prompting governments to re-engage with financial institutions, such as it has done with Liberia after a change in their government, and to ensure transparency.
Three African countries were removed from the delayed consultations list in 2025 after successfully resuming Article IV engagements- Egypt, Ethiopia and Malawi.
North Africa Post, Maghrebi.org
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