Tunisia plans to seek $3.7bn central‑bank loan in 2026 under draft budget
On 16 October 2025 Tunisia's draft 2026 Finance Law proposes an "exceptional" $3.7 billion loan from the Banque Centrale de Tunisie to help cover financing needs in 2026. The move formalises further domestic monetary financing after prior BCT tranches in 2024–25 and is presented as a mechanism while IMF talks remain stalled.
The desk brief
On 16 October 2025 Tunisia's draft 2026 Finance Law proposes an "exceptional" $3.7 billion loan from the Banque Centrale de Tunisie to help cover financing needs in 2026. The move formalises further domestic monetary financing after prior BCT tranches in 2024–25 and is presented as a mechanism while IMF talks remain stalled.
If enacted, shifting $3.7bn of borrowing onto the central bank would increase monetary financing and could raise inflation expectations, pressure the dinar under a managed regime, and reduce banking sector liquidity available to the private sector. External creditors could view the step as weakening the external anchor absent IMF re-engagement, heightening sovereign external refinancing risk.
Parliamentary approval of the 2026 Finance Law or formal BCT board decision to authorise the 2026 loan tranche.
Sources & verification
Developing storyFurther independent confirmation is required.
- Tunisia to Seek $3.7Bln Exceptional Central Bank Loan in 2026 Amid Persistent Budget Strainsecofinagency.com (opens in a new tab)
- Tunisia 2026 under Saied: the IMF-less path, BCT monetary financing, and Brussels as last creditordeluair.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
Public references supporting this brief.