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Macron pledges support for Tunisia on maiden state visit

French president is in Tunisia for two days to boost close partnership between France and its former colony, which is struggling economically.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The French president, who has made numerous trips to Africa, is in Tunisia for two days to further boost the close partnership between France and its former colony, which is struggling economically while contending with Islamic extremists, reports FRANCE 24.

"We are at an important moment in the life of Tunisia," Macron said at a press conference with his counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi.

"We want to accompany you," he said. "We want to allow the youth of Tunisia to succeed."

Tunisians ousted longtime dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 in protests that sparked the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.

Despite a relatively smooth democratic transition, unemployment and corruption remain rife seven years on and new austerity measures adopted at the start of this year sparked a wave of violent protests.

Successive governments have struggled to revitalise Tunisia's economy since 2011, especially after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealt a major blow to the key tourism sector.

France has said it wants to help Tunisia tackle joblessness, which remains above 15 percent overall and over 30 percent among the young, despite a slight uptick in economic growth last year.

Paris has also called on French firms to "invest massively" in Tunisia.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.