The second flight carrying Ivorians who want to leave Tunisia has arrived in Abidjan. This new start follows the xenophobic violence in Tunisia.
A few days after the Tunisian president’s speech on February 21, one of the spokespersons for the German government paid lip service to his concern. Because like its other partners, Berlin is struggling to put an end to the many hopes placed in the Tunisian democratic process since the 2011 revolution.
However, the repression of opponents, the disinterest of Tunisians in the elections and now a president who has become unpredictable leave a bitter taste for MP Tobias Bacherle, also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in charge of North Africa, Tobias Bacherle.
“There is a very strong disappointment in Germany. We observe this situation with great sadness because we had high hopes. We are very committed to supporting civil society, but also for the establishment of a democracy that will work over the long term.”, he said.
”We also do not currently have financial leverage”
A recognized expert on Tunisia, Isabelle Werenfels is a member of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, the German Institute for International Politics and Security. According to her, Germany is blocked by the role played by Tunisia in containing migratory flows toward Europe. But not only:
”What is the most effective? Criticism behind closed doors, public criticism, or concrete measures such as financial aid subject to conditions? We also do not currently have financial leverage. Because as long as there is no agreement with the IMF, Germany does not pay any aid to Tunisia.”
France and Italy call for support for Tunisia
During the last European Council a few days ago, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their concerns. Without this agreement with the IMF, which concerns aid of nearly two billion euros, Tunisia would risk, according to the two leaders, a collapse likely to trigger an unprecedented wave of migration toward Europe.
A too-partial analysis, according to Isabelle Werenfels points above all to a certain blindness.
”It’s a weakness in Germany’s foreign policy, but also in Europe. We are incapable of anticipating, of projecting ourselves into the most negative scenarios. And in the case of Tunisia, we have stood idly by for too long, convinced that the situation cannot become as serious as it is today.” laments Werenfels.
Head of European diplomacy, Josep Borell had also mentioned a risk of the “collapse” of Tunisia. Words certainly welcomed by Tobias Bacherle and Isabelle Werenfels, but which they both consider far too late.
