Saudi Arabia to give Tunisia $500 million amid economic crisis

Adam Lucente

Jul 20, 2023

Tunisian demonstrators raise national flags and protest placards as they take to the streets of the capital Tunis, on January 14, 2023, to protest against their president. - In July 2021, President Kais Saied sacked the government, froze parliament and seized far-reaching executive powers, later grabbing control of the judiciary -- moves opponents said aimed to install a new dictatorship in the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images — Tunisian demonstrators raise national flags and protest placards as they take to the streets of the capital Tunis, on January 14, 2023, to protest against President Kais Saied. — FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia announced $500 million in assistance to Tunisia on Thursday as the North African country continues to struggle with an economic and political crisis.

The Saudi ambassador to Tunisia, Abdel Aziz al-Saqer, told Al-Arabiya that the kingdom will provide a $400 million soft loan and a $100 million grant to Tunisia.

The Tunisian presidency also confirmed the news in a tweet.

The announcement came during Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar’s visit to Saudi Arabia. Ammar also met with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on Thursday.