Tunisia
Biggest protest in years hits Tunisia
Thousands of Tunisians joined the largest protest against President Kais Saied in years on Saturday, accusing him of undermining democracy and mishandling the economy in a growing challenge to his rule.
Tunisians protest economic deterioration
1 min Mena Today
Thousands of people rallied in Tunis on Saturday in response to a call from the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) to protest against the worsening social and economic situation.
The country experiences high inflation (around 8% annually) © Mena Today
Thousands of people rallied in Tunis on Saturday in response to a call from the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) to protest against the worsening social and economic situation.
The Tunisian economy has been stagnant, with only 0.4% growth in 2023 and an unemployment rate reaching 16.4% at the end of last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Unemployment was at 15.2% at the end of 2022.
The country has also been shaken by political tensions since President Kais Saied seized full powers in July 2021.
Facing a severe financial crisis, Tunisia reached an agreement with the IMF for a $2 billion loan in October 2022. However, negotiations stalled when the president rejected the IMF's recommended reforms.
While the Tunisian government prioritizes debt repayment (amounting to 80% of GDP), it lacks liquidity to provide its population with sufficient basic goods, leading to recurrent shortages of flour, sugar, or rice.
The country experiences high inflation (around 8% annually) fueled by rising cereal and energy prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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