Tunisia: is it in the forefront of forthcoming developments in the Arab World?
A high level of youth unemployment, mounting government debt, corruption and the impact of COVID- 19 have combined to spur unrest in Tunisia- the birthplace of the Arab Spring in December 2010. Like many countries in the Middle East, economic reforms did not materialize, even though it cast off its authoritarian president, c North Africa and the Middle East are still regions where the elites thrive.
So far there have also been uprisings in South Africa and Cuba, mainly because of deteriorating economies.
In Tunisia, a new government was sworn in on September 2, 2020. Its Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, said his priority was to address the economic and social situation, re-balance public finances (through talks with lenders), and begin reforms to cut subsidies and programs sustaining organizations like State Owned Enterprises, according to a World Bank report.
At the end of 2020, GDP growth in the country had contracted by 8.8%, according to the World Bank. Unemployment had increased from 15% prior to the pandemic to 17.8% by the end of the first quarter of 2021. And it continues to affect women (24.9%) and young people aged 15–24 (40.8%) in particular.
The World Bank report also says: "Poverty and vulnerability are expected to grow and invert a trend observed in poverty reduction over the last few years. A series of telephone interviews, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and the World Bank, showed evidence of the pandemic modifying their eating habits. "Poorer households have reduced the quantities of food they have consumed or started consuming less preferred foods. To cope with rising food prices or make up for jobs losses, households either drew on their savings, accepted outside financial help, or borrowed money from relatives and deferred payment of any outstanding obligations."
The report also noted that the "current account deficit remained high, at 6.8% of GDP in 2020, but has improved (from 8.5% in 2019), as imports declined at a faster pace than exports. These factors are supporting continued growth in forex reserves, which stood at US$8.3 billion by January 2021 (equivalent to 158 days of import cover) against US$7.4 billion at end-2019. During the first months of 2021, the trade deficit contracted by 10%. Exports of goods increased by 23% and imports rose by 13.7% compared to the same period in 2020. Meanwhile, the balance of services went from a positive balance of 523 million dinars to a negative balance of 177.5 million, a drop of 134%, but remittances increased by 17%, leading to a contraction of 6.8% of the current account balance. Trends in the first months of this year are positive, as higher exports—mainly from industrial production—contribute to lower external financing needs and lessen pressure on reserves. But external risk remains significant".
Along with other figures the report also noted that "overall, the budget deficit decreased by 27.7%, consistent with the objective of reducing the 2021 budget deficit to 6.6% of GDP".
Now there is considerable speculation as to what will happen next in Tunisia, following the storming of the Al Jazeera news offices. The Tunisian prime minister has also left his post (as of 26 July 2021). However, he is accused of executing a "coup". According to reports. he sacked the prime minister amid the COVID crisis and a faltering economy.
This article by Al Jazeera describes the storming of its office in Tunis.
"Tunisian security forces raided Al Jazeera Media Network's office in Tunis and expelled all journalists. At least 10 security personnel barged into the office without warrants, confiscated keys to the office and did not allow journalists back into the building to retrieve their personal belongings.
The security personnel did not explain why the office had been raided, merely saying they were following orders.
Al Jazeera considers this action by the Tunisian authorities as a troubling escalation and fears it will impede fair and objective coverage of unfolding events in the country. Al Jazeera calls on the Tunisian authorities to allow its journalists to operate unhindered and be allowed to practice their profession without fear or intimidation.
The Network values the solidarity of human rights and media organisations for their condemnation of these actions against Al Jazeera's bureau in Tunisia.
In a world in which the media and journalists face increasing threats, Al Jazeera views this as an attack on press freedom as a whole."
Al Monitor staff writing about the Tunisian "coup". July 26, 2021
A day after President Kais Saied staged what critics called a coup, police in Tunisia have stormed the Al Jazeera office in the capital city and Tunisian troops have surrounded the parliament.
Al Jazeera journalists in Tunis said at least 20 heavily armed police officers raided the office and confiscated their equipment on Monday. The officers reportedly lacked warrants but said they were acting on the orders of the Tunisian judiciary.
"They prevented the staff from even taking their personal belongings," said Al Jazeera's bureau chief Lutfi Hajji. "Security forces are surrounding the office."
Reporters Without Borders tweeted that it "denounces the closure of Al Jazeera's office in Tunis by security forces & calls on the authorities to respect press freedom and pluralism."
Late Sunday, the Tunisian president announced he was sacking Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi as well as suspending parliament for 30 days or "until the situation settles down." Saied also stripped lawmakers of their immunity and said he would be assuming executive authority.
"We have taken these decisions … until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state," Saied said in a televised address Sunday.
He described his actions as in line with an emergency article of the Tunisian Constitution and said they would be "temporary measures." He has not yet named a new prime minister.
The moderate Islamist political party, Ennahda, called the move "a coup against Tunisian democracy and its constitution." On Monday, Tunisian troops deployed to the parliament blocked parliament speaker and Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi from entering.
Saied's announcement followed widespread protests over the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Tunisia, which has one of the world's highest per capita death rates from COVID-19, has fully vaccinated just 7% of its population of 11.7 million. The death toll from the virus has topped 18,000.
Demonstrations calling for Mechichi's removal turned violent Sunday, with protesters in Tunisia's main cities storming the offices of his political party, Ennahda. Police fired pepper spray on stone-throwing rioters.
Tunisia's current tumult comes a decade after the uprising that toppled Tunisia's longtime dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and set off the region's revolutions. Once held up as the Arab Spring's sole success story, Tunisia has since experienced nine governments. Here's a look at key events leading up to the latest political crisis.
December 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old Tunisian fruit vendor, sets himself on fire to protest government corruption. His self-immolation triggers protests in the North African country and inspires the Arab Spring movement.
January 2011: After 23 years in power, protests force Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia with his family. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi resigns the next month.
October 2011: Moderate Islamist party Ennahda, which was banned under Ben Ali's regime, wins the most seats in elections for Tunisia's new 217-member assembly.
February 2013: The assassination of secular politician Chokri Belaid, who was an outspoken critic of Ennahda, triggers riots across the country.
January 2014: The parliament adopts a new constitution that is seen as one of the Arab world's most progressive.
March 2014: President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki lifts the state of emergency in place since 2011's anti-government protests.
December 2014: Beji Caid Essebsi wins Tunisia's first free elections for president.
May 2017: Tunisians protest a controversial bill that would give amnesty to businessmen and officials accused of corruption during Ben Ali's regime.
October 2019: Kais Saied, a former law professor, runs on an anti-corruption platform to become Tunisia's next president.
July 2020: Less than five months after he forms a government, Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns over conflict of interest violations.
August 2020: Saied nominates Hichem Mechichi, his former adviser, as prime minister. He pledges to form a technocratic government free of political parties.
July 2021: Saied is accused by his opponents of an attempted coup after he fires Mechichi and suspends the parliament in the wake of violent protests.
Comments