IMF reaches EFF agreement of $1.9bln with Tunisia
The agreement now pends the approval of the IMF's Executive Board set to meet in December.
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IMF agreement with Tunisia for $1.9 billion loan, pending approval
In a statement released today Saturday, the IMF announced reaching an agreement with Tunisia to support its economy with $1.9 billion.
"IMF staff and the Tunisian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement to support Tunisia's economic policies with a 48-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of about US$1.9 billion," the IMF stated.
The Tunisian authorities met in Washington with an international IMF team, led by Chris Geiregat and Brett Rayner from October 10 to October 15 to "continue discussions on IMF support for Tunisia and the authorities’ comprehensive economic reform program."
Read more: Saied receives Polisario chief, Morocco summons ambassador to Tunisia
In a statement following the discussions, Geiregat and Rayner announced that "the Tunisian authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on the economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with requested access of SDR 1.472 billion (equivalent to about US$1.9 billion)," adding that the "final agreement on the arrangement is subject to approval of the IMF's Executive Board, which is scheduled to discuss Tunisia’s program request in December."
It's noteworthy that Tunisia has been witnessing a major political crisis since July 25, 2021, when Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the Prime Minister and suspended the parliament, which was then chaired by Ennahda's leader Rached Ghannouchi, before dissolving it.
Thousands of supporters from leading opposition parties demonstrated in Tunisia's capital, Tunis, on Saturday to protest President Kais Saied's policies and demand his resignation, while blaming him for the deteriorating economic and social conditions in the country.
Read more: Tunisian opposition to boycott December parliamentary elections
The two principal opposition parties, namely the National Salvation Front and the Ennahda Movement, roamed the principal streets of the capital city, Tunisia, in protest of the President's economic policies.
#Tunisia : Thousands protesting in the capital this morning against Kais Saied's one-man rule.#Tunisie #Tunisia#Tunesien #تونس pic.twitter.com/bRCSv1lKVt
— TUN Anti-Coup (@BillJoh04134087) October 15, 2022
Saied amended the country's constitution and electoral law, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for the end of the year to elect a new parliament with limited powers.
In most of his speeches, the Tunisian President often stresses that his policy is "a correction of the revolutionary path."
