Discontent in Tunisia.

Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday March 2 in Tunis at the call of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) to protest against the deterioration of socio-economic conditions in the country.

“The economic and social situation continues to get worse,” said the secretary general of the main trade union center, Noureddine Taboubi, in a speech to the demonstrators, deploring “the failure (of the leaders, Editor’s note) to formulate policies and national choices".

He estimated that "the social and economic dialogue was totally blocked today", stressing that the State's capacity to repay its external debts in 2023 "was to the detriment of the people and the scarcity of basic products ".

Noureddine Taboubi also criticized the application of "diktats of the International Monetary Fund" (IMF) at the expense of Tunisians.

The Tunisian economy is at a standstill with only 0.4% growth in 2023 and an unemployment rate which reached 16.4% at the end of 2023 (compared to 15.2% at the end of 2022), according to the National Institute of statistical.

Recurring shortages of flour, sugar or rice

The country has also been shaken by political tensions since the coup by which President Kaïs Saïed granted himself full powers in July 2021.

Going through a serious financial crisis, Tunis concluded an agreement with the IMF in October 2022 for a loan of two billion dollars but the negotiations bogged down when the president rejected the reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund.

The Tunisian state makes a point of repaying its debts (80% of GDP) but lacks the liquidity to provide its population with enough basic products, which leads to recurring shortages of flour, sugar or rice.

The country is experiencing a high inflation rate (around 8% annually) fueled by rising grain and energy prices linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Economic and social rights are the foundation of true democracy" or "Defend social dialogue and purchasing power", could we read on Saturday on signs brandished by demonstrators in Tunis, according to a correspondent of the 'AFP.

With AFP

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