Corruption in North Africa: Nearly 1 in 3 paid a bribe …

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa — Nearly one in three citizens who tried to access basic public services in the Middle East and North Africa paid a bribe, a Transparency International report said today, showing that governments across the region have failed to hear their citizens’ voices against corruption. According to a public opinion survey by the international anti-corruption group of nearly 11,000 adults in 9 countries and territories, the majority of people (61…

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Tunisia’s central bank holds key rate unchanged at 4.25 percent in March

Tunisia’s central bank holds key rate unchanged at 4.25 percent in March

TUNIS, Tunisia, Capital Markets in Africa  — Tunisia’s central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 4.25 percent, the bank said on Thursday. The bank last cut its main interest rate in October, from 4.75 percent, in a bid to boost economic growth as inflation fell. The inflation rate was 4.9 percent in 2015, down from 5.5 percent in 2014. The central bank said tourism revenue in first two months in 2016 fell by…

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In Tunisia, Second Deadly Attack on Tourists in Four Months Is Credit Negative

In Tunisia, Second Deadly Attack on Tourists in Four Months Is Credit Negative

Tunis, Tunisia (Capital Markets in Africa) — Last Friday, a Tunisian student attacked foreign tourists at a beach resort in Sousse, Tunisia, killing at least 38. It was the second large-scale attack on foreign tourists in the country in just four months, following two Tunisian gunmen killing 22 people at a museum in Tunis in March. Although Tunisia’s (Ba3 stable) successful democratic transition between 2011 and 2014 and our outlook for its economic recovery prompted…

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Moody’s affirms Tunisia’s government issuer rating at Ba3 and changes the outlook to stable from negative

Moody’s affirms Tunisia’s government issuer rating at Ba3 and changes the outlook to stable from negative

Tunis, Tunisa (Capital Markets in Africa) — Global rating agency Moody’s has affirmed Tunisia’s government issuer rating at Ba3 and changed the outlook to stable from negative. The key drivers for the ratings rationale were attributed to a significant decline in domestic political risk emphasized by the successful democratic transition and installing of a broad unity government. As well as reduced external funding challenges following the resumption of official financing and access to international capital…

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Tunisia: AfDB grants €49.4 million loan to enhance natural gas supply to disadvantaged regions

Tunisia: AfDB grants €49.4 million loan to enhance natural gas supply to disadvantaged regions

Tunis, Tunisia (Capital Markets in Africa) — The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group approved on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Abidjan, a €49.4-million loan to the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Corporation, la Société tunisienne d’électricité et du gaz (STEG). The project for the development of natural gas transportation and distribution to the western part of the country is aimed at improving the supply of cheaper and less-polluting energy to the…

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Tunisia to start economic rescue plan, sees 7 pct growth in 5 years

Tunisia to start economic rescue plan, sees 7 pct growth in 5 years

TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s new government will launch an emergency economic plan that includes reforms in subsidies and social funds to revive growth to a projected 7 per cent in five years, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said.Tunisia has been praised as an example of compromise politics and democratic transition since overthrowing autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in a 2011 uprising, holding free elections and drafting a new constitution.But the North African country faces pressure from…

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