Controversy Surrounds Alleged "Italian Donation of One Million Sheep"
The controversy surrounding the alleged "Italian donation of one million sheep" has been reignited, despite the lack of official proof to confirm its existence.
According to Khaled Hakim Mabrouki, a deputy and vice-president of the Agriculture, Food Security, and Fisheries Commission at the Assembly of the People's Representatives (ARP), this issue was discussed during a meeting between the parliamentary commission and the professional group of livestock farmers affiliated with the CONECT organization.
During his appearance on Jawhara FM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the parliamentarian stated that the supposed donation was mentioned as a proposal dating back to 2016, involving one million sheep from the Sardinia region.
However, he clarified that no official document has been produced to confirm the existence of this aid or explain the reasons for its potential rejection by Tunisian authorities. He also reminded that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries have formally denied the existence of this donation.
On a separate note, Khaled Hakim Mabrouki stated that the prices of sacrificial sheep have recently dropped by an estimated 150 to 300 dinars, in a context marked by a decrease in consumer demand due to the general price increase.
He specified that the price of a high-quality sheep, typically used for Eid and weighing an average of 15 kilograms, currently ranges from 1,100 to 1,150 dinars, while some animals are offered starting from 800 dinars.
Finally, the deputy raised the issue of the lack of official statistics on the national herd in 2026. According to him, neither public authorities nor professional organizations have reliable figures, with unofficial estimates suggesting a total of over 500,000 heads.
These estimates are primarily based on veterinary vaccination operations, used as an indirect indicator, despite limitations related to the risks of duplicates in certain regions and difficulties in covering remote rural areas.
Key Points:
- The alleged "Italian donation of one million sheep" remains unconfirmed due to the lack of official proof.
- The proposal was mentioned as a 2016 proposal involving one million sheep from the Sardinia region.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries have formally denied the existence of this donation.
- The prices of sacrificial sheep have dropped by an estimated 150 to 300 dinars due to decreased consumer demand.
- There is a lack of official statistics on the national herd in 2026, with unofficial estimates suggesting over 500,000 heads.
