As Tunisia currently faces some social turmoil, French President Francois Hollande promised an aid of €1 billion to help the country face the crisis.

“France will implement a plan, involving the provision of €1 billion and extending over 5 years, to support Tunisia”, the French President said in a release published on January 22 at the close of a meeting between him and Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid.

“One of the major aims of this plan is to support the socially disadvantaged regions and youth, by focusing on employment”, the Elysée added in its release.

About five years after the overthrowing of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s regime, riots and manifestations have started on January 16 in various regions of the country. At the center of these protests which are subsequent to the death by electrocution of a 28-year old unemployed local are unemployment and social fairness. The 28-year youth died while protesting with others, after his name had been written off from an employment list, as he climbed an electric pole. Lacking financial means, the Tunisian government imposed a night curfew on the territory and told the youth to be more patient.