The African Development Bank has said it will give between $400-500m in aid to Tunisia to help with its financing needs.

The bank is likely to increase this to about $1bn later this year, says Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank. “Funds will go to the budget of Tunisia to help with unemployment, youth opportunities, regional inequalities and voice and accountability of the institutions,” says Kaberuka.

Tunisia has been in a state of unrest since former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on 14 January following protests against his regime.

Tunisian authorities have prepared 18 legal cases against Ben Ali (MEED 14:4:11). The cases include voluntary manslaughter and drug trafficking, conspiring against the state and drug use.

The Justice Ministry is also exploring ways to extradite Ben Ali from Saudi Arabia to face trial.