Tunisia deserves attention and support

2015 was a bloody year for Tunisia. There were attacks on the Bardo national museum in March, on a major hotel in Sousse in June and on the presidential guard in Tunis in November. This year, the terrorist militia ISIS even tried to take over the town of Ben Gardane, near the Libyan border, and establish an outpost in the country. This was unprecedented and deeply troubling.

Fortunately, the security forces were able to defend the city. About 50 terrorists were killed. It is worrisome, however, that they obviously enjoyed some support from within the country. Moreover, all of the terrorists who were so far identified turned out to be Tunisians. This raises a lot of questions. Perhaps there are more dormant terrorist cells in Tunisia.

The attack was launched from Libya. The violence that is rocking our neighbouring country is destabilising ours as well. The problems transcend borders and concern the entire international community. Tunisia’s nascent democracy is a beacon of hope in the Arab region. It deserves attention and support.

Tunisia needs security equipment. Among other things, it lacks advanced attack helicopters and night vision military capabilities to repel militant groups. It would also benefit from more intelligence sharing.  

Security, however, is not only a military issue. The socio-economic situation matters very much. It is a huge problem for the country and a major challenge for any Government that some Tunisian regions are lagging behind economically. The people, and especially the youth, need jobs and opportunities, so infrastructure must be improved and industries developed. Without strong action and foreign investments, unemployment will only get worse, purchasing power will decline and the social problems will grow.

In some of the more remote regions, the Tunisian state is not doing enough in economic and social terms, and extremist groups are taking advantage of people’s desperation. They recruit young men, promising money and a “better life”. Some of the youngsters are brainwashed to believe that they are fighting for a ‘noble cause’ and that ‘true Islam’ gives them a sense of purpose. These youngsters are a minority – but a very dangerous one.

Most Tunisians think that the country is on the right path. They appreciate having a democratic society and enjoying more liberty than ever before. However, political freedom, so far, is not going along with economic prosperity. It is a major issue that people’s standard of living is not improving. We should not forget that unemployment and economic hardship triggered the 2011 revolution.  

Democratic transitions always take time. People’s mind-sets do not change over night. Tunisians want to see more progress in their daily lives and are tired of empty promises. We need continuity of direction and policies, and the Government must swiftly implement some urgently needed reforms. To rise to its huge challenges, it certainly needs – and deserves – international support.

At the G8 summit of 2011, several billion dollars were pledged to Tunisia, but the country has yet to receive any of it. Though Tunisia’s problems are well known, our western allies have not been much helpful to date. They ought to put in place a Marshall Plan for Tunisia. In spite of its strong ties to Europe, our country is often forgotten until there is a terrorist attack.

Tunisia is the only ray of hope remaining from the 2011 Arab spring revolutions. It is also the last buffer zone against terrorism prevailing in North Africa. If ever Tunisia falls (God forbid), this shield will drop and the EU will have a lot more to worry about. It is high time for the international community to help Tunisia address its economic and security challenges. By helping Tunisia, the international community will help itself. We need deeds, not just words!

Tawfik Jelassi is a professor at the IMD business school in Lausanne (Switzerland) and a former Tunisian minister of higher education, scientific research and information & communication technologies. He served in the 2014-2015 transition Government. tawfik.jelassi@imd.org