by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 15, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: US Bill Would Make Aid Contingent Upon Democratic Reform Summary: On 15 June 2023, two US senators introduced legislation for consideration entitled the Safeguarding Tunisian Democracy Act of 2023, which will seek to shape US aid and foreign policy toward...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 13, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Revised IMF Plan Rumored as World Bank Calls for Public Sector Reform Summary: On Tuesday, 13 June 2023, international press reports indicated that an unidentified Tunisian official said that the government planned to present a revised economic reform plan to...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 12, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: IMF Report Details Breadth of Fiscal Risks Across MENA Region Summary: On 11 June 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report detailing the dynamics driving fiscal risk across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including details...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 12, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Expensya Acquisition Highlights Challenges for Tunisian Founders Summary: On 7 June 2023, Sweden-based accounts-payable software provider Medius announced plans to acquire Paris-based, Tunisian-founded expense management software as a service (SaaS) provider...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 11, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: EU Leaders Promise Over $1 Billion in Aid During Joint Visit Summary: On 11 June 2023, several European leaders traveled to Tunis to announce a series of aid packages and assistance programs designed to address surging irregular migration and Tunisia’s...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 10, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Legal, Tunisia
Tunisia: Oil Firm Enters Arbitration Claiming Government “Impediments” Summary: On 6 June 2023, Canadian energy firm Zenith Energy initiated proceedings against Tunisia and the Tunisian National Oil Company (ETAP) with the International Center for...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 9, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: UIB Under Review as SocGen Sheds African Businesses Summary: On 9 June 2023, French banking giant Societe Generale announced the conclusion of agreements to sell four African subsidiaries and plans to conduct a strategic review of Tunisian subsidiary Union...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 8, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Fitch Downgrades Default Rating as Foreign Reserves Slump Summary: This week, New York-based Fitch Ratings downgraded Tunisia’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating from CCC+ to CCC-, further confirming the country’s lack of creditworthiness....
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 8, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Launch of Digital Guide Aimed at Streamlining Investment Summary: On June 07, 2023, the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) announced the launch of a digital investment portal in partnership with the Tunisian Investment Authority (TIA)....
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 7, 2023 | Legal, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Outcry Over Detention of Ennahdha Members as Key Leader Resigns Summary: On 7 June 2023, a group of Muslim scholars called for the release from prison of former Parliament Speaker and Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi following his sentencing to one year in...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 6, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Meloni Promises Aid During Mid-Week Stop in Tunis Summary: On Tuesday, 6 June 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Tunisia with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan deal and the issue of irregular migration on the agenda. The visit comes...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 4, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Despite Diplomatic Spat, France Committed to Tunisia’s Stability Summary: On 30 May 2023, Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar met with his French counterpart Catherin Colonna in Paris as the two countries continue to work toward a resolution to Tunisia’s...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 4, 2023 | Diplomacy, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: African Lion Military Exercise Continues Amidst Battle for Influence Summary: The US-led African Lion military exercise is being held from mid-May to mid-June in multiple countries across Africa, including Morocco and Tunisia. The exercise comes amidst...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 2, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: $500 Million African Export-Import Bank Loan Approved Summary: On 1 June 2023, the Tunisian Parliament approved by majority vote an agreement to obtain a loan from the African Export-Import Bank, in the amount of $500 million US dollars. The agreement was...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Jun 1, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: President Saied Floats Tax on Wealthy to Solve Economic Woes Summary: On Thursday, 1 June 2023, Tunisian President Kais Saied proposed that increased taxation on rich Tunisians could be a means to avoid reliance upon a previously negotiated $2 billion...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 31, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: World Bank Re-engagement to Provide Stabilizing Influence Summary: The World Bank has reached an agreement to re-engage Tunisia following the recent abrupt pause in cooperation. The pause in engagement was a reaction against comments by President Kais Saied...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 27, 2023 | Diplomacy, Political, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: World Power Index Ranks North African Countries Summary: A recent report on North Africa from the World Power Index (WPI) identified Tunisia, along with Morocco, Algeria, and Libya as “middle peripheral powers” on a scale that measures “the accumulation of...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 27, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Supply Chain, Financing Issues Drive Bread Shortages Summary: In recent days, bakeries across Tunisia experienced bread shortages as the durum wheat supply chain remains unreliable. Many bakeries faced long lines as they were unable to meet customer...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 25, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: As Drought Plagues North Africa, Groundwater in Spotlight Summary: May 2023 reports have raised the possibility of a potential conflict over shared groundwater resources increasingly drawn upon by Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya as all three countries struggle...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 25, 2023 | Diplomacy, Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Smuggler, Terrorist Arrests Highlight Expanded Intelligence Operations Summary: On 25 May 2023, the National Guard announced the arrest of a notorious irregular migrant smuggler who operated out of Sfax, accumulating 24 arrest warrants and prior sentences...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 22, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: G7 Calls for IMF Deal, But Not on Italian Terms Summary: At the 49th G7 summit held 19 – 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan, Tunisia featured as a point of discussion as the European powers France and Italy continue to seek solutions to the irregular migration...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 21, 2023 | Contingency
Contingency Corner: Personal Security Awareness Personal security awareness is essential for those working in frontier markets. Security awareness is a combination of self-awareness and diligence in continually re-assessing your environment. Consider the following...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 18, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Agricultural Indicators Point to Flagging Production Summary: On 19 May 2023, an agricultural union official announced that Tunisia will likely need to import about 95% of its grains during the coming harvest season as production drops due to the ongoing...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 17, 2023 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Unemployment Rises Under Growing Economic Pressures Summary: In mid-May 2023, Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) released national unemployment data for Q1 2023, which indicated an increase of nearly 1% from the preceding quarter. Q1 2023...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | May 16, 2023 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Italy, France Remain Focused on Addressing Irregular Migration Summary: In mid-May, the Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi praised Tunisia’s efforts to stem the flow of irregular migrants to Europe following an official visit to Tunis....
