by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 29, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: IMF Loan Deal Decision Reportedly Delayed Second Time to March Summary: As of late December 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board had reportedly delayed a second time plans to finalize Tunisia’s $1.9 billion loan deal. A former...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 29, 2022 | Legal, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Ghannouchi Set for Questioning Over Speech Referencing Security Forces Summary: In late December 2022, Ennahdha leader and former Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament Rached Ghannouchi was called for questioning in anti-terrorism court due to statements made...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 28, 2022 | Economic, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: UGTT Sets Two-Day Transport Strike for Late January Summary: On 28 December 2022, the Union Generale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) announced plans for a two-day strike of public sector transport workers in late January. The strike, which will include public...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 28, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Civil Society Coalition Announces Plans for National Dialogue Summary: On 28 December 2022, a coalition of four civil society groups announced plans to begin outlining a national dialogue process. The purpose of the dialogue was explicitly to address the...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 27, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Long Awaited 2023 Finance Law Published, Drawing Strong Criticism Summary: On 26 December 2023, senior officials from Tunisia’s Ministry of Finance presented the 2023 budget which was tailored to begin a controversial economic reform process. The budget...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Agreement Signed on Joint Sea Route with Libya Summary: In mid-December 2022, the Tunisian Ministry of Transportation signed a preliminary agreement with its Libyan counterpart setting general terms for opening a maritime transport route between the two...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Following Election, France Pushes for Resumption of IMF Talks Summary: On 19 December 2022, the French government called for resumption of talks between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Tunisian government. The call comes following a delay in...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Former Prime Minister and Ennahdha Leader Arrested Summary: On 19 December 2022, a judge ordered the arrest of former Tunisian Prime Minister and Ennahdha Party leader Ali Larayedh, linking him to an investigation into Ennahdha’s alleged sending of foreign...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Runoff Parliamentary Elections Set for 20 January Summary: On 19 December 2022, the Tunisian Independent High Authority for Elections announced that run-off elections will be held on 20 January. Runoffs were deemed necessary because only 21 candidates of...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 19, 2022 | Economic, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: UGTT Ramps up Criticism Following Low Turnout for Elections Summary: Following the historically low voter turnout for the 17 December 2022 parliamentary elections, the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) has increased its criticism of the electoral...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 18, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: European Investment Bank Commits 220 Million in Loans Summary: On 18 December 2022, the European Investment Bank (EIB) committed to two loans to Tunisia totaling €220 million to help bolster the country’s food security and electrical infrastructure. The...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 18, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Low Voter Turnout Overshadows Parliamentary Elections Summary: On 17 December 2022, Tunisia held long-anticipated parliamentary elections. Voter turnout was widely reported at 8.8% with the final government tally revised upward to 11.2%, though the lack of...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 15, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Failure to Finalize Finance Law Delays IMF Loan Decision Summary: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has delayed the approval of Tunisia’s $1.9 billion loan deal due to the government failing to present a final 2023 finance law. The IMF Executive Board...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 15, 2022 | Diplomacy, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Saied Rebuffs Critics at US-Africa Summit Summary: On 13-15 December, the United States hosted the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC. Tunisian President Kais Saied was in attendance, making multiple appearances, including with US Secretary of State...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 14, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Bread Subsidies to be Gradually Tapered Summary: A government plan has reportedly surfaced outlining the tapering of bread subsidies that have kept prices artificially low for decades. The plan includes a reduction in the number of bakeries producing...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Libya Set to Receive Tunisian Business Delegation in Late December Summary: On 11 December 2022, a team from the Tunisian Embassy to Libya met with Mohamed Raied, the leader of the General Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce. The meeting included the...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Contingency
Phone Security: Diligence and Risk Management Smartphones are frequently stolen in Tunisia, both surreptitiously and through direct confrontation. Consider the following to avoid unnecessary risk: Avoid phone use in busy, public spaces Step into a store, bank, or...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Trade Deficit Hits Record Levels in November Summary: In November 2022, Tunisia’s trade deficit rose to record levels as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s ongoing financial crisis further stressed the economy. The overall trade deficit...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 11, 2022 | Economic, Social, Tunisia
Tunisia: Medicine Shortage Exasperated by Wholesale Distributor Strike Summary: On 5 December 2022, the Union of Wholesale Medicine Suppliers announced a labor strike. The strike was called to protest the government’s failure to respond to demands to reduce the tax...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Indian Firm Wins Bid for Sfax-Sousse Electricity Transmission Line Summary: In early December 2022, Indian firm Larsen & Toubro and the Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz (STEG) announced plans to reinforce the high-voltage electricity...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Multiple Energy Projects Announced Summary: Recently, multiple large-scale power projects were announced in Tunisia. The European Union plans to invest over €300 million in an undersea high voltage electricity cable, called ELMED. Emirati energy firm AMEA...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Economic Mission Announces Multiple Initiatives with Abidjan Summary: During an early December 2022 economic mission in Cote d’Ivoire, representatives from a Tunisian business interest group, CONECT (Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises), signed a...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 9, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: President Saied Courts US, Chinese Leaders Summary: On 7 December 2022, a delegation from the US National Security Council visited Tunis to meet with President Kais Saied and other key leaders. The meetings touched on security cooperation, but also...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 9, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: Tunis Courts Algiers as Distance Grows with Rabat Summary: During a summit held last week in Algiers, Tunisia and Algeria signed an agreement to help boost cooperation on startups. The agreement, signed by Tunisian’s Minister of Communication Technologies...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 7, 2022 | Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Government Announces Sfax Terror Attack Disrupted Summary: On 7 December 2022, the Tunisian government announced that a terror plot had been successfully disrupted in Sfax. The plot reportedly targeted a security unit and a religious institution. The...
