According to the latest figures, Tunisia’s debt service will rise from 20.8 billion dinars in 2023 to 24.7 billion dinars in 2024, including 17.8 billion in principal and more than 6 billion in interest on the debt, which is a significant amount, economist and university professor Aram Belhadj told MosaïqueFM
The debt service will represent 14% of GDP, he added.
Belhadj described the situation of public finances as continuing to deteriorate and pointed out that recovery will require a good agricultural season, a successful tourist season and stable or increased remittances to Tunisians abroad.
The expert confirmed that the repayment of the debt for 2024 will not be easy, but that the largest sums will be paid in February and October, according to the report of the Ministry of Finance.
February is the date for the repayment of a €850 million loan, in addition to the tranche of the IMF loan and the monthly payment from the Arab Monetary Fund, the report said
He also mentioned that October 2024 will also be the date for the payment of “heavy tranches”, including the one for 1.7 billion dinars.
