**Fatshimetrie: Daily shortages on Tunisian supermarket shelves**
The Tunisian economy, despite the efforts made by President Kaïs Saïed to start a second term, continues to face major challenges. Inflation, the depreciation of the dinar and the debt burden are all elements that negatively impact the country’s economic situation.
The GDP growth rate reached only 1% in the second quarter of 2024, while unemployment stands at around 16%. Despite some signs of improvement, such as the decline in the inflation rate to 6.7%, the majority of Tunisians are still feeling the effects of a sluggish economy.
The economic crisis has a direct impact on the daily lives of Tunisians. Supermarket shelves are often empty and power outages are a daily reality. Basic services such as water and electricity are often inadequate, and food shortages are common.
Dependence on foreign aid and tourism revenues also limits the country’s ability to recover independently. Encouraging domestic savings and supporting entrepreneurship will be essential steps to building a sustainable economic future.
Rwanda: Economic Ambitions and Development Challenges
Rwanda continues to surprise with its economic resilience. The country’s real GDP grew by an impressive 9.7% in the first quarter of 2024, outpacing the 8.2% growth recorded the previous year.
This remarkable performance, despite a global economic slowdown, is explained by strong consumption in key sectors such as services and industry. The industrial sector was particularly notable, with growth of 10%.
Despite these positive developments, Rwanda faces persistent challenges, including inflation and an under-trained workforce. To maximize the potential of its young population, Rwanda must focus on skills development.
A recent $200 million project aims to provide opportunities for 200,000 vulnerable youth to acquire market-relevant skills. With these new measures, Rwanda aims to become a middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income country by 2050.
Fisheries in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
The fisheries sector is crucial to the African continent, with a vast maritime territory of 13 million square kilometers. The sector employs more than 12 million people and provides food security for more than 200 million Africans.
Yet per capita fish consumption is alarmingly low, at less than 10 kg per year, and only 5 kg in East Africa. Illegal fishing and overexploitation of stocks deprive local communities of essential protein and income, benefiting European and Asian food systems.
Faced with threats to maritime and inland resources, some countries such as Morocco have already put in place strict legislation that regulates fishing techniques, imposes seasons and limits the intensity of industrial fishing.
So-called “second generation” fisheries agreements are increasingly emerging, such as the one signed between Senegal and the European Union in 2019, which allows European fishermen to collect a quota of 10,000 tonnes per year.
Small-scale fishing, which represents 66% on the continent and more than 80% in the least developed countries, is an asset for African countries in the face of sustainable development challenges. Increased political support for this sector and the definition of a sustainable strategy for inland fisheries and aquaculture could have significant repercussions on the food security of African populations.