France’s Macron to Announce ‘Concrete Steps’ in Aiding Tunisia

Tunisians protest the rising cost of basic goods [Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters]

French President Emmanuel Macaron will soon visit Tunisia, spending two working visits in Morocco and Algeria.

Macron is expected to spend a full day in Tunis, arriving on Wednesday afternoon and departing the following day for Senegal, the second and final leg of his current tour.

Presidential sources announced on Monday that Macron’s choice of visiting Tunisia "carries symbolic significance for the democratic experience held in this country and is the only successful among in the Arab Spring’s aftermath."

According to these sources, the French president “wants to express France's solidarity with Tunisia and its support for its current political track.”

More so, French efforts will not stop at that, sources say that Paris wishes to take "concrete steps" to help Tunisia.

The visit will serve as a platform to announce these efforts. Sources hinted that it will involve the "mobilization" of French institutions and companies to invest directly in the Tunisian economy and increase direct government assistance for development and the conclusion of agreements forming educational sectors—an effort designed to qualify young people and enable them to enter the labor market.

Macron's visit comes in the wake of social and economic protests that have rocked Tunisia in recent weeks. Public demonstrations are expected to be among the topics of discussions between Macron and his counterpart Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

Macron will also hold talks with the Tunisian Head of Government Youssef Chahed.

In the course of the visit, Macron with Chahed will conclude the joint Franco-Tunisian economic conference.

Macron will be accompanied by several businessmen and government ministers.

The French President’s visit will entail two main events-- meetings with Tunisian president and head of government, in addition to giving a speech before the Tunisian parliament.