President Moncef Marzouki’s Visit to Gafsa Met with Criticism from Locals

Tunisian Interim President Moncef Marzouki met with residents of the governorate of Gafsa on Thursday to discuss government investment and address the economic and social concerns of the region’s inhabitants, according to TAP. This meeting comes almost a week after the government announced that Gafsa was to receive 500 million dinars ($300 million) in development funds from the government.

Gafsa is known for an intense spate of strikes and unrest in 2008, noted by Marzouki in one of his speeches. According to TAP, Marzouki addressed local crowds saying, “Tunisia is grateful to the inhabitants of Redaief and the mine basin. They are those who led the way to the revolution of January 14 by their fight against marginalization and unemployment in 2008.”

TAP writes that Marzouki called for improving development in the region, and combatting unemployment. He also added that citizens should assist the government in ensuring stability to create an atmosphere of prosperity and one that is attractive to foreign investment.

Not everyone was pleased with the president’s overtures, however. TAP wrote on Saturday that civil society activists in Gafsa saw the president’s visit as “building up an electoral campaign.” TAP also added that the President’s visit to Om Larayes was met with protests that prevented a meeting between Marzouiki and residents.

In a conversation with TAP, Labor Union Secretary General Seghaeir Miraoui said that, “The president did not announce any concrete decision during this visit.”

In 2011, Gafsa and Tozeur had an unemployment rate among college graduates of 37.5%.