Mansour Moalla

Mansour Moalla
Born	(1930-03-01) March 1, 1930 Sfax, Tunisia
Occupation(s)	Economist, entrepreneur, politician
Known for	Various ministerial roles in Tunisia (1960s–1980s), founding the Arab Institute of Business Leaders

Mansour Moalla (; born 1 March 1930) is a Tunisian economist, entrepreneur, and political figure who occupied various ministerial roles from the 1960s through the early 1980s.

Early life and education

Born in Sfax on 1 March 1930 into an agricultural family, Moalla completed his elementary and secondary schooling in his hometown. He pursued legal studies in France, earning his law degree in 1953. In the same year, he also obtained a degree in literature and subsequently achieved a doctorate in political science from the University of Paris. Between 1954 and 1956, he attended the National School of Administration in France.

Moalla was instrumental in founding the General Union of Tunisian Students in France and held the presidency during its second congress in 1954. He took part in negotiations for Tunisia’s internal autonomy under Tahar Ben Ammar but departed from the delegation after gaining admission to the National School of Administration.

Career and activities

Moalla launched his professional journey as an inspector at the General Inspectorate of Finances until September 1957. The following year, he joined the Ministry of Finance as a technical adviser and played a key role in creating the Central Bank of Tunisia, where he served as its inaugural director-general. From 1962 to 1963, he held the positions of president and director-general of the National Society of Investment as well as director of Central Administration. In 1964, he was appointed director of the National School of Administration. By 1967, Moalla advanced to undersecretary of state for industry and commerce; two years later, he became director of Central Administration at the Presidency and led the State Secretariat of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones. Between 1969 and 1970, he acted as secretary of state and minister of communications before assuming the role of minister of planning from June 1970 until 1974.

Affiliated with the Destour Socialist Party, Moalla was a member of its central committee and political bureau between 1980 and 1984. Under Prime Minister Mohammed Mzali, he served as minister of planning and finance from 1980 to 1983 but was dismissed due to opposition against his proposed tax reforms by Tunisia’s business community. His successor in planning was Ismaïl Khelil.

In 1976, alongside Habib Bourguiba Jr., son of President Habib Bourguiba, Moalla co-established the Arab International Bank of Tunisia, directing it for one year. After stepping down from government duties in 1983, he became honorary president of the bank but resigned from all official roles in June 1993 to protect its interests. Additionally, Moalla founded the Arab Institute of Business Leaders (Institut Arabe des Chefs d’Entreprises; IACE), a think tank launched in 1985, where he served as president until June 1993. His departure followed a defamatory campaign accusing him of links to a Masonic lodge allegedly influencing national economic institutions—likely connected to his criticism regarding Tunisia's adherence to policies endorsed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

In October 2013, Moalla was proposed as a potential head for the transitional government formed after the Arab Spring turmoil but declined this opportunity on 31 October.

Personal life and career

Moalla is a husband and father to four children: Nejla, Selim, Alya, and Samy.

He has written multiple publications, such as De l'indépendance à la révolution. Système politique et développement économique en Tunisie (2011) and Sortie de crise et union nationale: pourquoi et comment (2019), which convey his perspectives on Tunisia’s political economy and developmental challenges.

Honours

Among the distinctions Moalla has received are the Commander rank of the Order of the Republic, Officer of the Order of Independence, and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Tunisian Republic.