As part of its statutory mission to preserve the integrity and transparency of the Tunisian financial market and to support national efforts in preventing money laundering, terrorist financing and the proliferation of weapons, the Financial Market Council (CMF) announced that it has adopted its strategy for 2026 in this area.
This strategy is structured around several complementary pillars, consistent with international standards and the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The strategy first focuses on strengthening the framework for effective adherence by market participants, moving from formal compliance to a risk-based and good governance approach.
To this end, the CMF will monitor the implementation of action plans resulting from supervisory activities, enhance the role of compliance and internal control structures, intensify awareness campaigns and the dissemination of periodic alerts regarding emerging risks, while encouraging the adoption of modern digital solutions for customer due diligence and transaction monitoring.
In the second pillar, the CMF places particular importance on developing skills and strengthening capacities, considering human capital as a key lever for the effectiveness of the framework.
This pillar involves implementing specialized training programs for CMF staff and market participants, as well as developing and publishing sector-specific guides aimed at harmonizing the understanding and application of regulatory requirements and promoting a sustainable compliance culture.
The third pillar aims to improve the quality of reporting and analysis by enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of suspicious transaction reporting, ensuring compliance with legal deadlines, and strengthening the contribution of obligated entities to reporting to the Tunisian Financial Analysis Commission (CTAF).
It also includes the development of financial analysis capabilities, enhanced coordination with judicial, security, and supervisory authorities, as well as investment in digital tools and early warning mechanisms.
Furthermore, the strategy places special emphasis on strengthening the effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions.
This includes verifying the effectiveness of screening mechanisms against national and international lists, applying immediate freezing measures without prior notification, integrating this theme into supervisory and training programs, and updating risk matrices based on the results of the 2025 national risk assessment, thereby contributing to enhancing the credibility of the national framework.
The fifth pillar focuses on strengthening the supervisory and control framework by establishing the risk-based approach as the central methodology of the CMF’s actions.
This involves developing sectoral assessment tools and early warning mechanisms, enabling supervision efforts to be directed towards the most exposed activities and entities, increasing the effectiveness of interventions, and limiting systemic risks.
Through the adoption of its strategy for 2026, the Financial Market Council reaffirms its ongoing commitment to its role in prevention, supervision, and sanctions in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons.
This contributes to the stability of the Tunisian financial market, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and aligns with international best practices and standards.
