There are speeches that contradict themselves through their own inconsistency. Take that of Samir Abdelhafidh, Minister of Economy and Planning. On Wednesday, in the hushed chamber of the Assembly of People’s Representatives, he delivered a passionate defense of the government’s economic policy.
Yet, at that very moment, in the same hall sanctified by democracy, lawmakers hastily approved a $500 million loan from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). While the minister spoke of sovereignty and economic control, reality told a different story: Parliament had just signed another cheque against the country’s future.
Control? No, dependence
“We must keep our debt under control,” the minister declared…