An agreement to resupply the circuit of Tunisian non-state bakeries with flour has been reached, which constitutes the beginning of a solution to a shortage of low-cost bread which had worsened over the past two weeks, we learned on Sunday. from industry sources.

There are two bread circuits in Tunisia: the first, formed by 3,737 stores, benefits from subsidized flour provided by the state; the second is that of the 1,500 to 2,000 “modern bakeries” which had been entitled for ten years, and until the beginning of August, to a limited quota of this type of flour.

After a protest sit-in on August 7 that followed the adoption on August 1 of a decree depriving “modern bakeries” of subsidized flour to divert it to semi-states, they only received no more flour or semolina from the State, which centralizes all basic supplies.

“It has been decided to resume the supply of unsubsidized bakeries with flour and semolina from August 19” following their commitment to “respect the laws relating to the production and sale of bread”, said the Department of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce will also carry out an overhaul of the bread production and distribution system. Besides subsidized bread, modern bakeries sell other types of bread and pastries.

After this decision, Salem Badri announced to AFP “the cancellation of a sit-in scheduled for Monday” in front of the Ministry of Commerce in Tunis. Discussions will also resume to allow modern bakeries to resume the production of subsidized bread, but on “the basis of the criteria set by President Kaïs Saïed”, according to him.

At the end of July, Saïed had advocated “a single bread for Tunisians”, deploring speculation and the existence of a “bread for the rich” and a “bread for the poor”. The subject is very sensitive in a country that experienced violent bread riots that killed 150 people in 1983 and 1984.

According to various economists, the shortage of bread stems above all from a lack of cereals, Tunisia not managing to buy enough on the international market due to its debt and lack of liquidity.

These difficulties were accentuated by an unprecedented drought in the spring which decimated the wheat harvests, which will force the State to import 100% of its common wheat needs in the coming months (80% in normal times).