Tunisia

Full Name of state

Tunisian Republic

Origins of name – Named after Tunis the present-day capital, but in ancient times a powerful city-state and successor to ancient Carthage

Formerly - N/A

Overview

Tunisia became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century and was a French protectorate from 1881 to 1956.

Granted independence as a constitutional monarchy, it became a republic in 1957. Habib Bourguiba, who led the independence movement, became the first President.

Habib Bourguiba was replaced in November 1987 by the then Prime Minister, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in January 2011. Acting president is Fouad Mebazaa before Moncef Marzoukiwas named president.

Facts

Form of Government

·         Republic

-          President elected by popular vote for a five-year term

-          No term limits

-          President is the ad of state

-          Prime minister is the head of government

·         Government structure

-          President

-          Prime minister

-          Bicarmel Parliament

Military Statistics

·         Manpower fit for military service: 5,059,054

·         Expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2006)

·         Branches: Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2008)

Current Ruler

·         President Moncef Marzouki

Former Ruler

·         July 1957-1987: the late President Habib Bourguiba

  1987- to January 2011 President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI

Capital

·         Tunis

Altitude – 11 metres

Population – 728,453

Population

·         Size: 10,673,800 ( 2011)

·         Life expectancy:  75.8 years

·          Gender Make-Up:  males 50.3 per cent, females 49.7

 GDP per capita

·         $9,415 (2011)

$9,443 (2010)

 Geography

·         Area: 163,610 sq km

·         Land boundaries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Major Languages

·         Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce)

·         French (commerce)

Religious portfolio

·         Muslim 98%,

·         Christian 1%,

·         Jewish

·         others 1%

National Make-up

·         Arab 98%,

·         European 1%,

·         Jewish

·          others 1%

 Natural Resources

·         Petroleum

·         Phosphates

·         iron ore

·         lead

·         zinc

·         salt

 Main exports

·         clothing

·         textiles

·         agricultural products

·         mechanical goods

·         phosphates and chemicals

·         hydrocarbons

·         electrical equipment

Land Use

·         Arable land: 17.05%

·         Permanent crops: 13.08%

·         Other: 69.87% (2005)

Monetary Unit/Currency

·         Tunisian Dinar

Dialing Code

·         +216

Internet Code

·         .tn

Transport

·         Main Port: Tunis

·         Airport: Tunis Carthage International Airport located 7 kilometres from Tunis.

Modern issues

Environmental

·         Toxic waste disposal

·         Water pollution from raw sewage

·         Limited natural fresh water resources

·         Deforestation

·          Overgrazing

·         Desertification

Political

On January 14, 2011, following months of popular demonstrations calling for his removal from office, President Ben Ali abdicated power

It was seen a great victory when Mr. Marzouki was elected president - He is widely respected for his opposition to former president Ben Ali, and is seen as a likely counterweight to the moderate Islamist party which became the country's dominant political force

The Tunisian revolution ushered in nationwide calls for political reform, including a new constitution

Tunisia's biggest danger is the conflict between reactionists and modernists

 Economic

·         Tunisia has almost completed a transition from a socialist to a market economy.

·         Tunisia considered a Middle-class country and one of the best-performing non-oil exporting Arab countries.

·         Tourism remains a major employer earning up to 20 per cent of the country’s income

 Social

According to official figures, Tunisia has 19% unemployment, but it is generally believed to be much higher in some regions

Foreign Affairs

·         Tunisia has followed a moderate, non-aligned course in its international relations, playing an active role in supporting the Middle East Peace Process.

·         Tunisia signed an Association Agreement with the EU in 1995, which entered into force in 1998.

·         United States considers Tunisia a moderate Muslim country - Since the Tunisian revolution in 2011, U.S. Government assistance to Tunisia has increased dramatically

·         Tunisia sympathizes with the Palestinians.

·         The EU and Tunisia have discussed additional cooperation to control illegal immigration and manage legal immigration flows.

The Major Conflicts

Israel Raid

·         When: 1985

·         Who: Israel

·         Why: a response to killing- by Palestine Liberation Organisation-of three Israel tourists.

·         Outcome: 60 people killed.

1987 Bloodless Coup

·         When:  1987.

·         Who: the then Prime Minister Ben Ali declares President Bourguiba the then president mentally unfit to rule the country and overthrows him.

·         Why:  to take over power.

·         Outcome:  elections which Ben Ali won

 Militia attack

·         When: 2007

·         Who: Militants and security forces clash in Tunis

·         Outcome: Twelve people killed

 What to see?

·         Bulla Regia- this is an underground Roman architectural site that was a way of keeping cool when the heat was too much.

·         Bardo Museum. Here, you see one of the world’s greatest Roman collections of mosaics. The collection includes archaeological riches from the Carthaginian, Roman, early Christian and Islamic eras

·         Holy city of Kairouan-here are more than 50 mosques including the Great Mosque of Sidi Oqba which is is North Africa's oldest mosque.

Sports

Popular Sports

·         Football

·         Camel racing

·         Horseback riding

·         Rugby

Famous Sportsmen and Sportswomen

·         Osama Mellouli swimming champion who was named sportsman of 2004

·         Wajdi  Bouallègue (Gymnastics)

·         Ziad Jaziri twice named Tunisian footballer of the year

Quirks

· Underground houses: The Cave Homes of Matmâta were constructed over hundreds of years. It is very useful to build subterranean homes in hot arid climates. Underground, the temperature is always the same. At night when the desert is very cold, it is comfortably warm in the cave, and at day when the sun burns down, the caves are cool