60th edition · 2023

Aoussou Carnival: back before a large crowd, lighting up Sousse in a festive atmosphere. In the presence of Dr Hayet Guettat Guermazi, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr Mohamed Moez Belhassine, Minister of Tourism, and Mr Nabil Ferjani, Governor of Sousse, the 60th edition of the Aoussou Parade Festival, organised by the Aoussou Parade Association of Sousse under the slogan “Aoussou, the joy of the country”, opened on the evening of Monday 24 July 2023, before a large crowd and amid tight security. In front of tens of thousands of Tunisians and a large number of our Algerian brothers and sisters, the organisers handed out Tunisian flags to a large number of spectators, especially children. All along the Sidi Boujaafar corniche, dozens of floats, musical numbers and dance performances from Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Syria and Poland paraded past, with nearly 2000 participants taking part. The decorated floats, specially built in workshops in the city of Sousse, symbolised science, culture, history, tourism and industry, alongside the agriculture float, which handed out baskets of fruit to the public, and other features that make our country unique. They were joined by artistic performances from bands and youth dance groups from Sousse, several Tunisian cities and Arab and foreign countries: the majorettes of Sousse and Ksar Hellal, the Stambali of Sousse, the Hadhra of Mohamed Ali Jelali, equestrian shows, white she-camels from southern Tunisia, giant puppets, folk shows from Libya, Algeria and Syria, a brass band from Poland, a percussion show from Sfax… as well as the Étoile Sportive du Sahel float and the “i love sousse” float, vintage cars, motorbike and bicycle displays, several combat sports and feats of strength and endurance… The intense heat did not stop the public from turning out in large numbers on both sides of the avenue to watch the carnival, which returns after years of absence and has been, and remains, one of the symbols of the Pearl of the Tunisian Sahel; the number of spectators reached nearly 60,000. The Minister of Cultural Affairs expressed her delight at the return of the “Aoussou Carnival” and the culture of coexistence and joy it embodies, while the Minister of Tourism stressed the importance of this festival, back after several years of absence, praising its contribution to “reviving tourism and economic activity in Sousse, as well as its national and international reach, and the fact that it coincides with the anniversary of Republic Day”. The Governor of Sousse, for his part, highlighted the considerable efforts made by everyone to prepare and organise the carnival meticulously, in particular the work carried out in the workshops in extremely high temperatures, so that the carnival, the city of Sousse and Tunisia as a whole might shine, and he commended the security units for keeping the festival safe.