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Tunisia
No solution for budget crisis as Mechichi is cold-shouldered by IMF and Ghannouchi by Doha

Having failed to present a structural reform plan to the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi is unlikely to get any new budgetary aid in the short term. Parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi, meanwhile, has been unable to obtain support from his allies in Qatar. [...]

Published on 14/05/2021 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Politics

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Ali Kooli
Assembly of the Representatives of the People
Ben Ali
Central Bank of Tunisia
Ennahda
Ferid Belhaj
Hichem Mechichi
International Monetary Fund
Kais Saied
Kristalina Georgieva
Leila Jaffel
Mohamed Bousseta
Moody's
Muslim Brotherhood
Noureddine Taboubi
Qatar National Bank
Rached Ghannouchi
Rafik Abdessalem
Tamim bin Hamad al Thani
UGTT
Utica
World Bank

Tunisia
Gulf states set conditions for Kais Saied

For the past five years, the Tunisian president has repeatedly sought financial help from Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But next time round he can expect any help for Tunis to come with more strings attached.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 16.05.2024

Tunisian president Kais Saied, during a stay in Kuwait, on 17 December 2023.

North Africa
Union for the Mediterranean members jostle for top post

Egyptian diplomat Nasser Kamel's term as secretary-general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), which he has led since 2018, ends next year. Behind the scenes, negotiations are already underway between member states to appoint his successor.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.04.2023

North Africa
In Algiers, Kais Saied gets borders reopened, but no new gas

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, despite being a supporter of his neighbouring leader, resisted Tunisian requests for additional gas contracts.

Subscribers only Energy, Diplomacy 08.07.2022

Kais Saied and Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune attend the celebration the anniversary of Algeria's independence on 5 July, 2022.

Inner circles | Tunisia
UGTT trade union at heart of economic and political negotiations with Kais Saied

The powerful UGTT trade union has reaffirmed its role as a key player in Tunisian politics by refusing to participate in the national dialogue as defined by President Kais Saied. Noureddine Taboubi, its secretary-general, is taking part in negotiations with the IMF and at the Carthage Palace with the head of state.

Subscribers only Politics 03.06.2022

Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the UGTT.

Tunisia
Hassan Bedhief, economic adviser to Kaïs Saïed, has handed in his resignation

At the Tunisian presidency, the departures are coming thick and fast. However, the resignation of Hassan Bedhief, economic adviser to Kaïs Saïed, was not supported by head of the cabinet Nadia Akacha.

Subscribers only Business 11.01.2022

Algeria, Tunisia
Tebboune seeks to drive a wedge between Saïed and Sisi

The Algerian president, who has just granted an emergency loan of $300m to Tunisia, is demanding in return that the country rein in its growing ties with Cairo, which have strengthened since the coup d'etat orchestrated by Kaïs Saïed on 25 July.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.12.2021

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed (right) welcomes his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his arrival in Tunis on 15 December 2021.

Tunisia
Why Kais Saied skipped the Riyadh summit

Having failed to obtain a separate meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (MbS), as well as with the Emirati delegation, Kaïs Saïed sent a representative to the Middle East Green Initiative Summit in Riyadh on 25 October.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.10.2021

Tunisia
Kais Saied seeks Saudi and UAE financial aid in Riyadh

Kaïs #Saied will attend Middle East Green Initiative Summit on 25 October, an environmental conference organised by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.The Tunisian president hopes to secure substantial budgetary support from #SaudiArabia and #UAE.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.10.2021

Tunisia
Tunis chooses Aida Hamdi to steer bailout with IMF and World Bank

A graduate of ENA specialising in administrative reform and finance, junior aid minister Aida Hamdi will be responsible for dealing with the country's international financial backers.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.10.2021

Secretary of State for International Cooperation Aida Hamdi.

Tunisia
Troubled in Tunis, Ennahda revives its London base

The Islamic democratic party has been trying to distance itself from a lobbying contract signed in London with US giant BCW that has led to a judicial inquiry in Tunisia. Yet all signs seem to indicate the party was directly involved.

Subscribers only Politics 08.09.2021

Tunisia
Tunis goes quiet as IMF aims to resume talks

The Bretton Woods lender hopes to begin talks over a new loan next month, but the Tunisian government has held no preparatory meetings and continues to take on new debt from commercial banks.

Subscribers only Business 31.08.2021

Tunisia
Saied plays army spies and 'ill-gotten gains' as trump cards

First he suspended parliament and sacked the prime minister. Now the president plans to turn up the heat on his political enemies by co-opting military intelligence agents in a renewed bid to recover embezzled billions.

Subscribers only Politics 29.07.2021

Tunisian President Kais Saied addresses the nation, 25 July 2021.

Tunisia
Up in smoke: $3bn in aid from Qatar and Libya

Amid fraught talks with the IMF, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Central Bank of Tunisia will be credited with $2bn from Doha or another billion from Tripoli.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 05.07.2021

Tunisia
Negotiations with IMF for $4bn loan still at an impasse

Neither President Kaïs Saïed nor the government of Hichem Mechichi have so far managed to come up with a reform plan which meets the conditions imposed by the IMF for granting a $4bn loan. In any case, the loan would barely enable Tunisia to cover its upcoming payment deadlines.

Subscribers only Politics 22.06.2021

Tunisia
Darmanin due back in Tunis on 28 June to talk security, business and Libya

The French interior minister will have the chance to discuss security and migration at greater length when he attends a round table with his North African and Sahel counterparts on 28 and 29 June.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.06.2021

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin during his visit to Tunisia in November 2020.

Tunisia
Employers' body goes back to war over electricity tariffs

With price hikes on the horizon, UTICA wants its members to be able to buy electricity directly from private producers. The energy ministry isn't interested in discussing the politically charged matter.

Subscribers only Energy, Business 14.06.2021

Tunisia
DLA Piper bags contract to lead hunt for Ben Ali assets

Tunisia's cash-strapped government has tasked DLA Piper law firm with the global coordination of procedures to recover the ill-gotten assets of ousted president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's family.

Subscribers only Politics 25.05.2021

Tunisia
Washington gives Borj Erroumi prison a radical makeover

In the hope of curbing the radicalisation of the most dangerous prisoners, the US State Department is to modernise the Borj Erroumi penitentiary where the Ben Ali regime kept its political opponents under lock and key.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.05.2021

Tunisia
Saïed in Paris for frank talks about debt, OIF summit with Macron

The French president has put pressure on his Tunisian counterpart by inviting him to Paris on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the summit on African economies. This trip was decided at the last moment because of concerns about Tunisia's financial situation.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.05.2021

Kaïs Saïed and Emmanuel Macron during a meeting at the Elysée in June 2020.

Tunisia
KfW wonders if regional banking project will ever see the light of day

The German development bank has invested several million euros in a new regional banking structure since 2013. Eight years later, it is nowhere close to becoming a reality.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.05.2021

Qatar, Tunisia
No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Finance minister Ali Kooli's attempt to negotiate a new loan from the Qatar National Bank, with the backing of the Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi, floundered when Doha set the interest rate at 5.5%.

Subscribers only Finance, Diplomacy 22.04.2021

Tunisia
French PM mollifies Tunis with visit on 24 May

After cancelling a trip planned for March because of Covid-19, Jean Castex will head to the Tunisian capital next month for talks about security and economics with his counterpart Hichem Mechichi.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.04.2021

Tunisia
Mechichi talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn ahead of crunch IMF meet

With Tunisia on the verge of default, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has begun talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the hope that the former IMF chief will help him persuade the institution to resume its financial support.

Subscribers only Business 20.04.2021

Tunisia
Kais Saied's lonely battle to recover Ben Ali clan's ill-gotten gains

With the legal deadlines to recover the hundreds of millions of euros misappropriated by the clan of the ex-president about to expire, President Kais Saied is being hindered by government departments and the speaker of parliament, the Islamist Rached Ghannouchi.

Subscribers only Politics 28.01.2021

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Ali Kooli
Assembly of the Representatives of the People
Ben Ali
Central Bank of Tunisia
Ennahda
Ferid Belhaj
Hichem Mechichi
International Monetary Fund
Kais Saied
Kristalina Georgieva
Leila Jaffel
Mohamed Bousseta
Moody's
Muslim Brotherhood
Noureddine Taboubi
Qatar National Bank
Rached Ghannouchi
Rafik Abdessalem
Tamim bin Hamad al Thani
UGTT
Utica
World Bank

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Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Tunisia
No solution for budget crisis as Mechichi is cold-shouldered by IMF and Ghannouchi by Doha

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Tunisia
Gulf states set conditions for Kais Saied

North Africa
Union for the Mediterranean members jostle for top post

North Africa
In Algiers, Kais Saied gets borders reopened, but no new gas

Inner circles | Tunisia
UGTT trade union at heart of economic and political negotiations with Kais Saied

Tunisia
Hassan Bedhief, economic adviser to Kaïs Saïed, has handed in his resignation

Algeria, Tunisia
Tebboune seeks to drive a wedge between Saïed and Sisi

Tunisia
Why Kais Saied skipped the Riyadh summit

Tunisia
Kais Saied seeks Saudi and UAE financial aid in Riyadh

Tunisia
Tunis chooses Aida Hamdi to steer bailout with IMF and World Bank

Tunisia
Troubled in Tunis, Ennahda revives its London base

Tunisia
Tunis goes quiet as IMF aims to resume talks

Tunisia
Saied plays army spies and 'ill-gotten gains' as trump cards

Tunisia
Up in smoke: $3bn in aid from Qatar and Libya

Tunisia
Negotiations with IMF for $4bn loan still at an impasse

Tunisia
Darmanin due back in Tunis on 28 June to talk security, business and Libya

Tunisia
Employers' body goes back to war over electricity tariffs

Tunisia
DLA Piper bags contract to lead hunt for Ben Ali assets

Tunisia
Washington gives Borj Erroumi prison a radical makeover

Tunisia
Saïed in Paris for frank talks about debt, OIF summit with Macron

Tunisia
KfW wonders if regional banking project will ever see the light of day

Qatar, Tunisia
No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Tunisia
French PM mollifies Tunis with visit on 24 May

Tunisia
Mechichi talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn ahead of crunch IMF meet

Tunisia
Kais Saied's lonely battle to recover Ben Ali clan's ill-gotten gains

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

The generals waging war from Khartoum to Darfur

Tunisia No solution for budget crisis as Mechichi is cold-shouldered by IMF and Ghannouchi by Doha

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Tunisia Gulf states set conditions for Kais Saied

North Africa Union for the Mediterranean members jostle for top post

North Africa In Algiers, Kais Saied gets borders reopened, but no new gas

Inner circles | Tunisia UGTT trade union at heart of economic and political negotiations with Kais Saied

Tunisia Hassan Bedhief, economic adviser to Kaïs Saïed, has handed in his resignation

Algeria, Tunisia Tebboune seeks to drive a wedge between Saïed and Sisi

Tunisia Why Kais Saied skipped the Riyadh summit

Tunisia Kais Saied seeks Saudi and UAE financial aid in Riyadh

Tunisia Tunis chooses Aida Hamdi to steer bailout with IMF and World Bank

Tunisia Troubled in Tunis, Ennahda revives its London base

Tunisia Tunis goes quiet as IMF aims to resume talks

Tunisia Saied plays army spies and 'ill-gotten gains' as trump cards

Tunisia Up in smoke: $3bn in aid from Qatar and Libya

Tunisia Negotiations with IMF for $4bn loan still at an impasse

Tunisia Darmanin due back in Tunis on 28 June to talk security, business and Libya

Tunisia Employers' body goes back to war over electricity tariffs

Tunisia DLA Piper bags contract to lead hunt for Ben Ali assets

Tunisia Washington gives Borj Erroumi prison a radical makeover

Tunisia Saïed in Paris for frank talks about debt, OIF summit with Macron

Tunisia KfW wonders if regional banking project will ever see the light of day

Qatar, Tunisia No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Tunisia French PM mollifies Tunis with visit on 24 May

Tunisia Mechichi talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn ahead of crunch IMF meet

Tunisia Kais Saied's lonely battle to recover Ben Ali clan's ill-gotten gains

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Tunisia
No solution for budget crisis as Mechichi is cold-shouldered by IMF and Ghannouchi by Doha

Tunisia
Gulf states set conditions for Kais Saied

North Africa
Union for the Mediterranean members jostle for top post

North Africa
In Algiers, Kais Saied gets borders reopened, but no new gas

Inner circles | Tunisia
UGTT trade union at heart of economic and political negotiations with Kais Saied

Tunisia
Hassan Bedhief, economic adviser to Kaïs Saïed, has handed in his resignation

Algeria, Tunisia
Tebboune seeks to drive a wedge between Saïed and Sisi

Tunisia
Why Kais Saied skipped the Riyadh summit

Tunisia
Kais Saied seeks Saudi and UAE financial aid in Riyadh

Tunisia
Tunis chooses Aida Hamdi to steer bailout with IMF and World Bank

Tunisia
Troubled in Tunis, Ennahda revives its London base

Tunisia
Tunis goes quiet as IMF aims to resume talks

Tunisia
Saied plays army spies and 'ill-gotten gains' as trump cards

Tunisia
Up in smoke: $3bn in aid from Qatar and Libya

Tunisia
Negotiations with IMF for $4bn loan still at an impasse

Tunisia
Darmanin due back in Tunis on 28 June to talk security, business and Libya

Tunisia
Employers' body goes back to war over electricity tariffs

Tunisia
DLA Piper bags contract to lead hunt for Ben Ali assets

Tunisia
Washington gives Borj Erroumi prison a radical makeover

Tunisia
Saïed in Paris for frank talks about debt, OIF summit with Macron

Tunisia
KfW wonders if regional banking project will ever see the light of day

Qatar, Tunisia
No helping hand from Emir Al-Thani ahead of Tunisia's fraught IMF meet

Tunisia
French PM mollifies Tunis with visit on 24 May

Tunisia
Mechichi talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn ahead of crunch IMF meet

Tunisia
Kais Saied's lonely battle to recover Ben Ali clan's ill-gotten gains