Tunisia issues arrest warrant for Club Sportif Sfaxien president in olive production corruption case

The Tunisian judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for prominent businessman and Club Sportif Sfaxien president Abdelaziz Makhloufi, in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation involving the management of “Henshir Chaal,” one of Tunisia’s largest public olive production projects.

Mozik FM reported that a financial district investigating judge ordered Makhloufi’s detention as part of a case implicating 15 individuals, including a former Minister of Agriculture, former chief cabinet officials of the ministry, and staff associated with the Henshir Chaal project.

Charges against Makhloufi reportedly include allegations of mismanagement, which led to a significant decline in productivity, as well as financial misconduct, including fuel theft and degradation of agricultural equipment.

Henshir Chaal, the country’s largest state-owned olive grove, is located in Tunisia and hosts approximately 400,000 olive trees.

The project holds a significant role in Tunisia’s olive oil industry, a major economic sector and foreign currency source.

Tunisian President Kais Saied visited Henshir Chaal in 2023, expressing dismay over the project’s condition, and confirming the presence of “financial corruption and negligence” in its management.

Saied, who has consistently advocated for an anti-corruption agenda, emphasized the need for accountability and structural reforms.

On Sunday, he made a visit to another public estate in central Tunisia, also calling for a judicial inquiry into suspected corruption.

This latest development comes at a time when Tunisia is anticipating up to a 50% increase in olive oil exports in 2024, a crucial source of foreign exchange for the country.

According to the National Oil Office, olive oil is vital to Tunisia’s export economy, and the government has been working to improve productivity in this sector amidst economic challenges.