The fiery statements of the Tunisian President about the dictate imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions do not prevent him from eventually clinging to the crutches they extend to avoid disaster.
In 2024, Tunisia's public debt could reach about 140 billion dinars (47.6 billion US dollars), or approximately 80% of the GDP, according to official projections. The country must repay a significant amount for its external and internal debt, with repayments scheduled at 9.744 billion dinars for external debt and 8.119 billion dinars for internal debt. As of March 28, 2024, one dinar is worth 0.32 US dollars. This situation puts Tunisia in a difficult position, necessitating structural reforms and prudent management of public finances.
Tunisia's debt service could see an increase estimated at 4 billion dollars this year, a 40% jump compared to 2023. This increase is attributed to a context of drying up external financing. Furthermore, Tunisia faces significant deadlines in 2024, including the repayment of several loans and financing mechanisms, totaling 12.3 billion dinars. This financial burden includes the repayment of significant borrowings in the international financial market and from organizations such as the IMF.
"The country's financial commitments are in the order of eight billion dollars in 2024," highlighted, with a tone of sadness, Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia. In revealing this amount, the minister did not say how her country intends to pay it.
