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IMF loan unlikely to save Tunisia's economy

Funds from the global lender of last resort may be too little, too late.

Tunisia economy
Tunisians shop at Halfaouine market near central Tunis on Feb. 15, 2022. — FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

Questions are being raised across the political spectrum on whether Tunisia's long-delayed International Monetary Fund loan will have the positive impact that many hope for. Other observers fear it will be too little, too late to save Tunisia’s drowning economy.

This would be Tunisia’s third loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), often referred to as the lender of last resort. The country currently owes the IMF $2.01 billion USD. Many fear that with or without the loan, Tunisia’s road to recovery will be a troubled one, especially as Moody’s has already stated that it will review and possibly downgrade Tunisia’s current Caa1 bond rating, flagging it as a country at high risk of default.

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