Tunisia Roundup: 8% interest rate, human trafficking network destroyed, African Lion 2025
2025 African Lion military exercise
In a significant development for military collaboration in North Africa, Tunisia has been selected to host the 2025 African Lion military exercise, the largest of its kind in the nation. This exercise, scheduled for April-May, aims to bolster military interoperability among participating nations and will see the involvement of up to 8,000 military personnel across various locations in Tunisia, with auxiliary events planned in Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana. Following Tunisia's recent Phoenix Express drill, this exercise exemplifies Tunisia's expanding role in international military cooperation, prominently supported by the United States and the European Union, The Defence Post reports. Over the past decade, since Tunisia's political transition in 2011, the US has channelled approximately $1 billion into Tunisian security, with $160 million allocated for the year 2023 alone.
Iran delegation visits Algeria and Tunisia as rapprochement gathers pace
An Iranian delegation led by Ibrahim Azizi is undertaking a visit to Algeria and Tunisia aimed at strengthening Tehran's influence in North Africa. This diplomatic engagement follows a backdrop of historically strained relations, particularly ancient suspicions between Algeria and Iran regarding support for extremist factions during Algeria’s civil conflict in the 1990s. Although diplomatic ties were reinstated in the early 2000s, The National says interactions have remained limited until the recent surge in high-level meetings. In Algeria, the focus has been directed towards amplifying bilateral relations, especially surrounding economic cooperation in sectors like agriculture, tourism, and education. Notably, the visit to Tunisia signals a transformation in the North African nation’s foreign policy stance, culminating from President Kais Saied's groundbreaking visit to Iran in May, and is further highlighted by Tunisia’s recent decision to ease visa restrictions for Iranian tourists.
Central bank maintains key interest rate at 8%
The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) has reiterated its cautious monetary policy by choosing to hold the key interest rate steady at 8%, in response to persistent inflationary pressures. The Bank's board reflected on economic growth rates which increased to 1.8% in Q3 2024, compared to 1% in Q2 and a contraction of -0.4% in the same quarter the previous year. The BCT council has signalled the necessity for cooperative efforts among stakeholders to enact essential reforms aimed at boosting supply capacities and achieving consistent growth metrics, reports AL24 News.
Tunisia dismantles human trafficking network near capital
Tunisian authorities have successfully disrupted a human trafficking network near the capital city of Tunis, apprehending the suspected leader along with an accomplice during a raid in Ben Arous. According to Daijiworld, the operation also involved confiscating forged documents and a substantial amount of cash. This intervention is indicative of Tunisia's ongoing commitment to bolster border security and combat transnational criminal enterprises, reinforcing its pivotal role as a transit hub for migrants attempting to reach European shores.
2 migrants dead, one missing off Tunisia
Two migrants lost their lives, and one remains missing after a migrant vessel capsised off the eastern coast of Tunisia. Twenty-eight others were rescued from the incident, with the ill-fated boat having departed from Teboulba, a town located 180 kilometres from the capital. New Arab adds that Tunisia and Libya are recognised as critical embarkation points for migrants aiming for Europe, particularly Italy. Alarmingly, since the beginning of the year, at least 341 bodies have been recovered off the Tunisian coast, with over 1,300 individuals reported either dead or missing last year, attributable to perilous sea crossings. According to the International Organisation for Migration, the Mediterranean has been the site of over 30,309 migrant deaths in the past decade, raising urgent humanitarian concerns.
