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

Tunisia
Kais Saied and UGTT seek to build bridges

One of Tunisia's most powerful unions is on fraught terms with the president's office, but it can look to various figures to help it renew dialogue with the Carthage Palace.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Gabon, Namibia, Tunisia

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Ivory CoastBanker Ibrahim Magassa wins ticket to Washington.

GabonEmmanuel Leroueil takes charge of oil dealmaking at the presidency.

NamibiaEphraim Nekongo brings youth vote to Namibia's top presidential contender.

TunisiaEx-investment banker Donia Kaouach campaigns for women and peace.

Tunisia
France holds up €50m Tunisian loan because of traceability concerns

France promised to loan Tunisia €100m at the end of 2020. It paid out the first installment in 2021 but has delayed paying out the estimated €50m second tranche. The loan, the first part of which was released in 2021, was part of a "public policy" package but aid of this kind is subject to strict traceability and management criteria which Tunisia's state-owned enterprises are unable to guarantee at present.

Tunisia
Saïed's supporters set their campaign in motion ahead of legislative elections

Members of the president's inner circle have been busy preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections by launching a new initiative with the aim not only of spreading the president's political vision but of winning seats in the new parliament.

Tunisia
UGTT union unable to unite over Kais Saied's referendum

The numerous political factions within the main Tunisian worker's union, UGTT, are making it hard to give its members any sort of instruction on how to vote on the constitutional referendum scheduled on 25 July.

Tunisia
Tunis seeks backers for struggling PPP infrastructure projects

In addition to existing projects such as the Sfax tramway and desalination plants, the Tunisian government has several longer-term ecological and energy-based ideas in the pipeline. These include a phosphate pipeline facility and the development of green hydrogen.

The New Guard
South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Tunisia

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence reveals the next generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

South Africa Geordin Hill-Lewis, mayor and rising opposition social-media star

Nigeria Dozy Mmobuosi, leading tech titan

Zimbabwe Simbarashe Gwenzi, youth ambassador from Harare to Addis

Tunisia Sayida Ounissi, former Ennahda MP and thorn in Saied's side

Tunisia
Energy minister Neila Gonji pushes industry towards renewable electricity

The Tunisian government, which is under pressure from its lenders and high gas prices, is trying to speed up construction of new wind and solar power plants, particularly those destined to supply electricity to cement and other industrial producers.

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.

Spotlight | Tunisia
Gannouchi looks for a pro-Karoui prime minister

After having been disoriented by Kaïs Saïed's overwhelming victory in the presidential elections, Rached Ghannouchi has already set about negotiating the formation of the next government. And to keep the new president at arm's length, he is looking for support [.