Hopes faded on Friday for a stalled $1.9 billion IMF bailout package for Tunisia after President Kais Saied said he would not comply with “diktats” and that the required subsidy cuts could cause unrest.
Tunisia reached an agreement with the IMF for the loan in September, but it has already missed key commitments, and donors believe its finances are increasingly diverging from the figures used to calculate the deal.
Without a loan, Tunisia faces economic meltdown. Foreign loan repayments are due this year, and credit ratings agencies have said the country may default.
The terms of the loan include cuts to food and energy subsidies and a reduction in the public wage bill, but Saied said: “I will not hear diktats.” The alternative to the loan, he said, was that “Tunisians must count on themselves.”
Saied seized most powers in 2021, shutting down parliament, appointing a new government and moving to rule by decree —moves he said were necessary to end years of chaos and rampant corruption among the political elite.
He has blamed Tunisia’s economic problems on corruption and rejected what he sees as foreign interference.
Bailout talks with the IMF have been stalled for months, with the US and France, among others, demanding far-reaching reforms from Saied to free up the cash. Italy, however, a key destination for migrants from North Africa, says Tunisia should be quickly supported to avoid the financial collapse.
Europe risks seeing a huge wave of migrants arriving on its shores if Tunisia's financial stability is not safeguarded, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said last month.
Hopes fade for IMF bailout of Tunisia
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Hopes fade for IMF bailout of Tunisia
Anti-Daesh coalitions issues joint statement after Riyadh meeting
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of senior diplomatic and defense officials from the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh in Riyadh on Monday.
Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji opened the meeting, which was co-chaired by US Special Envoy for Syria Ambassador Tom Barrack.
Participants expressed their appreciation to the Kingdom for hosting the meeting and for its continued role in supporting regional and international efforts to counter terrorism and promote stability.
Participants welcomed the comprehensive agreement between the Government of Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces, including the permanent ceasefire and arrangements for the civil and military integration of northeast Syria.
They noted the Government of Syria’s stated intention to assume national leadership of counter-Daesh efforts and expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against Daesh.
Participants also thanked the Government of Iraq for its continued leadership in the Defeat Daesh campaign.
The participants reaffirmed their priorities, including the swift transfer and safeguarding of Daesh detainees, third-country repatriation, the dignified reintegration of families from Al-Hol and Roj camps to their communities of origin, and continued coordination with Damascus and Baghdad on the future of the Defeat Daesh campaign in Syria and Iraq.
Participants welcomed the Syrian government as the 90th member of the D-Daesh Coalition. Coalition members underscored their readiness to work closely with the Syrian government and encouraged members to provide direct support to Syrian and Iraqi efforts.
Coalition defense officials highlighted the close coordination between diplomatic and military lines of effort.
Participants received briefings on the current Defeat Daesh campaign, including ongoing detainee transfer operations.
Officials commended Iraq’s efforts to securely detain Daesh fighters and welcomed Syria’s assumption of responsibility for detention facilities and displacement camps housing Daesh fighters and their family members.
Participants reiterated the need for countries to take responsibility for and repatriate their nationals from Iraq and Syria.
Coalition members thanked Iraq for its leadership and recognized that the transfer of detainees into Iraqi custody is essential to regional security.
They reaffirmed their shared commitment to defeating Daesh in Iraq and Syria and pledged continued support to both governments in securing Daesh-affiliated detainees.
