UN employee detained upon arrival in Tunisia

TUNIS

A UN employee was taken into custody by the local authorities upon his arrival in Tunisia earlier this week, according to the world body’s office in Tunis.

In a Friday statement, the office said it was in contact with the Tunisian authorities with a view to ascertaining the reasons for the detention of its employee, who it identified as Moncef Kartas.

“UN experts and those on mission, like Kartas, enjoy immunity and are covered by the Conventions on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN,” the statement read.

The Tunisian authorities, for their part, have yet to comment on the office’s statement.