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tunisia
Tunisia (pronounced /tuːˈniʒə/ too-NEE-zhə (US) or /tjuːˈnɪzɪə/ tyoo-NI-zeer (UK); Arabic: تونس Tūnis), officially the Tunisian Republic (الجمهورية التونسية al-Jumhūriyya at-Tūnisiyya), is thenorthernmost country in Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its size is almost 165,000 km² with an estimated population of just over 10.3 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the north-east.
Tunisia is the smallest of the nations situated along the Atlas mountain range. The south of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and 1,300 km of coastline. Both played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous Phoenician city of Carthage, then as the Africa Province which was known as the "bread basket" of the Roman Empire. Later, Tunisia was occupied by Vandals during the 5th century AD, Byzantines in the 6th century, and Arabs in the 8th century. Under the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia was known as "Regency of Tunis". It passed under French protectorate in 1881. After obtaining independence in 1956, the country took the official name of the "Kingdom of Tunisia" at the end of the reign of Lamine Bey and the Husainid Dynasty. With the proclamation of the Tunisian republic in July 25, 1957, the nationalist leader Habib Bourguiba became its first president and led the modernization of the country.
Today Tunisia is an export-oriented country, in the process of liberalizing its economy [6] while, politically it is a dictatorship in all but name.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Tunisia has an authoritarian regimein the guise of a procedural democracy led by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who has governed as President since 1987 and has systematically diminished freedom of press and political pluralism while keeping appearances of democracy (for references see, below, for the politics of Tunisia).
Tunisia has close relations with both the European Union — with whom it has an association agreement — and the Arab world. Tunisia is also a member of the Arab League and the African union. The regime's claimed success in oppressing political Islam and its pro-western foreign policy, has protected it from criticism for its lack of democratic accountability and its violations of human rights and freedom of press.[13] France, the former colonial power, lends support to the regime in exchange for economic and political subservience,[14][15]
Every year numerous Tunisians attempt illegal immigration to European countries like Italy by sea. Many die trying when the small boats in which they are riding capsize or go adrift at sea. Others reach their destination but are forcibly repatriated.[16][17][18]
Etymology
The word Tunisia is derived from Tunis; a city and capital of modern-day Tunisia. The present form of the name, with its Latinate suffix -ia, evolved from French Tunisie.[19] This name was introduced by French geographers and historians as part of their efforts to give names to their new occupied territories and protectorates. The French derivative Tunisie was adopted in some European languages with slight modifications introducing a distinctive name to designate the country. Other languages remained untouched such as the Spanish Túnez. In this case, the same name is used for both country and city as in Arabic: تونس and only by context can one tell the difference.[19]
The name Tunis can be attributed to different origins. It can be associated with the Phoenician goddess Tanith (aka Tunit), ancient city of Tynes or to the Berber root ens which means "to lie down".
Further information: Etymology of Tunis
[edit]History
Main article: History of Tunisia
[edit]Antiquity
At the beginning of known recorded history, Tunisia was inhabited by Berber tribes. Its coast was settled by Phoenicians starting as early as the 10th century B.C. The city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. by settlers from Tyre, now in modern day Lebanon. Legend says, that Dido founded the city in 814 B.C., as retold in by the Greek writer Timaeus of Tauromenium. The settlers of Carthage brought their culture and religion from the Phoenicians and other Canaanites.
After a series of wars with Greek city-states of Sicily in the 5th century BC, Carthage rose to power and eventually became the dominant civilization in the Western Mediterranean. The people of Carthage worshipped a pantheon of Middle Eastern gods including Baal and Tanit. Tanit's symbol, a simple female figure with extended arms and long dress, is a popular icon found in ancient sites. The founders of Carthage also established a Tophet which was altered in Roman times.
The history of human culture in Tunisia goes back thousands of years. Early farming methods reached the Nile Valley from the Fertile Crescents region in about 5000 B.C from there, farming spread to the Maghreb by about 4000 B.C The humid coastal plains of central Tunisia were home to the early agricultural communities, populated by the ancestors of the Berber tribes.
[edit]The Roman Period
Though the Romans referred to the new empire growing in the city of Carthage as Punic or Phoenician, the empire built around Carthage was an independent political entity from the other Phoenician settlements in the Western Mediterranean.
A Carthaginian invasion of Italy led by Hannibal during the Second Punic War, one of a series of wars with Rome, nearly crippled the rise of the Roman Empire. Carthage was eventually conquered by Rome in the 2nd century BC, a turning point which led to ancient Mediterranean civilization having been influenced mainly by European instead of African cultures.
After the Roman conquest, the region became one of the granaries of Rome, and was Latinized and Christianized. The Romans controlled nearly all of modern Tunisia, unlike other modern African countries, of which Rome only held the northern coast. It was conquered by the Vandals in the 5th century AD and reconquered by the commander Belisarius in the 6th century during the rule of Byzantine emperor Justinian.
[edit]The Arab-Muslim Period
Around the end of the 7th century and the beginning of 8th century the region was conquered by Arab Muslims, who founded the city of Kairouan which became the first city of Islam in North Africa ; in this period was erected (in 670) the Great Mosque of Kairouan considered as the oldest and most prestigious sanctuary in the western Islamic world[20] as well as a great masterpiece of Islamic art and architecture.[21] Tunisia flourished under Arab rule. Extensive irrigation installations were constructed to supply towns with water and promote agriculture (especially olive production).[22][23] This prosperity permitted luxurious court life and was marked by the construction of new Palace cities such as al-Abassiya (809) and Raqadda (877).[22]
Successive Muslim dynasties ruled Tunisia (Ifriqiya at the time) with occasional instabilities caused mainly by Berber rebellions;[citation needed] of these reigns we can cite the Aghlabids (800-900) and Fatimids (909-972). After conquering Cairo, Fatimids abandoned North Africa to the local Zirids (Tunisia and parts of Eastern Algeria, 972-1148) and Hammadid (Central and eastern Algeria, 1015–1152).[24] North Africa was submerged by their quarrels; political instability was connected to the decline of Tunisian trade and agriculture.[22][25][26] In addition the invasion of Tunisia by Banu Hilal, a warlike Arab Bedouin tribes encouraged by Fatimids of Egypt to seize North Africa, sent the region's urban and economic life into further decline.[24] The Arab historian Ibn Khaldun wrote that the lands ravaged by Banu Hilal invaders had become completely arid desert.[25][27]
The coasts were held briefly by the Normans of Sicily in the 12th century and the following Arab reconquest made the last Christians in Tunisia disappear. In 1159, Tunisia was conquered by the Almohad caliphs. They were succeeded by the Berber Hafsids (c.1230–1574), under whom Tunisia prospered. In the late 16th century the coast became a piratestronghold (see: Barbary States).
[edit]The Ottoman Rule
In the last years of the Hafsids, Spain seized many of the coastal cities, but these were recovered by the Ottoman Empire. Under its Turkish governors, the Beys, Tunisia attained virtual independence. The Hussein dynasty of Beys, established in 1705, lasted until 1957. From 1881 - 1956 the country was under French colonization. European settlements in the country were actively encouraged; the number of French colonists grew from 34,000 in 1906 to 144,000 in 1945. In 1910 there were 105,000 Italians in Tunisia.[28]
[edit]World War II
Main article: Tunisia Campaign
In 1942–1943, Tunisia was the scene of the third major operations by the Allied Forces (the British Empire and the United States) against the Axis Powers (Italy and Germany) during World War II. The main body of the British army, advancing from their victory in Battle of el-Alamein under the command of British Field Marshal Montgomery, pushed into Tunisia from the south. The US and other allies, following their invasions of Algeria and Morocco in Operation Torch, invaded from the west.
General Rommel, commander of the Axis forces in North Africa, had hoped to inflict a similar defeat on the allies in Tunisia as German forces did in the Battle of France in 1940. Before the battle for el-Alamein, the allied forces had been forced to retreat toward Egypt. As such the battle for Tunisia was a major test for the allies. They figured out that in order to defeat Axis forces they would have to coordinate their actions and quickly recover from the inevitable setbacks the German-Italian forces would inflict.
On February 19, 1943, General Rommel launched an attack on the American forces in the Kasserine Pass region of Western Tunisia, hoping to inflict the kind of demoralizing and alliance-shattering defeat the Germans had dealt to Poland and France. The initial results were a disaster for the United States; the area around the Kasserine Pass is the site of many US war graves from that time.
However, the American forces were ultimately able to reverse their retreat. Having known a critical strategy in tank warfare, the Allies broke through the Mareth line on March 20, 1943. The allies subsequently linked up on April 8 and on May 2, 1943 the German-Italian Army in Tunisia surrendered. Thus, the United States, United Kingdom, Free French, and Polish (as well as other forces) were able to win a major battle as an allied army.
The battle, though often overshadowed by Stalingrad, represented a major allied victory of World War II largely because it forged the Alliance which would one day liberate Western Europe.
[edit]Present-day politics
Main article: Politics of Tunisia
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Tunisia is an authoritarian regime and police state in the guise of a procedural democracy which makes it one of the worst regimes in the region. Independent human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Freedom House, ProtectionOnLine.com have documented that basic human and political rights are not respected.[29][30][31] The regime obstructs in any way possible the work of local human rights organizations.[32] In the Economist's 2008 Democracy Index Tunisia is classified as an authoritarian regime ranking 141 out of 167 studied countries (worse than The Peoples Republic of China, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Pakistan). In 2008, in terms of freedom of press, Tunisia was ranked 143 out of 173, that is worse than neighbouring Algeria and Morocco.[33][34]
Authoritarian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, previously a military figure, has been in office since 1987, the year he acceded to the executive office of Habib Bourguiba after a team of medical experts judged Bourguiba unfit to exercise the functions of the office. The event is often described as a 'medical coup'.[35][36][37] Prior to that moment Ben Ali was Bourguiba's minister. The day of his succession, 7 November, is celebrated by the state as national holiday, with the state-owned television,[38] many public buildings and even the national currency Tunisian dinar and the only private airline Sevenair and TV station (both owned by the family of the President's wife) displaying the '7 November' logo. In Tunisia, the President is re-elected with enormous majorities every 5-year terms the last time being October 25, 2009.[39] In theory, Tunisia has a republican presidential system characterized by a bicameral parliamentary system, including the Chamber of Deputies, which has 214 seats, 25% of which are reserved for 'opposition parties' and the Chamber of Advisors (112 members) which is composed of representatives of political parties, professional organisations patronised by the president and by personalities appointed by the president of the Republic. The president appoints a Prime Minister and a cabinet who play a minor role in the execution of policy. Regional governors and local administrators are also appointed by the central government. Largely consultative mayors and municipal councils are elected. In presidential, parliamentary and local elections the vast majority of seats goes to the President's party known as the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) in French. It is composed of more than 2 million members and more than 6000 representations throughout the country and largely overlaps with all important state institutions. Although the party was renamed (in Bourguiba’s days it used to be known as the Socialist Destourian Party), its policies are still considered to be largely secular but hardly socialist or truly liberal (Incidentally, both chambers of parliament are composed of more than 20% women, something extremely rare in the Arab world. Moreover, Tunisia is the only country in the Arab world where polygamy is forbidden by law. This is part of a provision in the country’s Code of Personal Status which was introduced by the former president Bourguiba in 1956.) There are currently eight other small political parties in Tunisia, six of whom are represented in the rubber stamp parliament giving a semblance of legitimacy. The judiciary is not independent in constitutional matters and often corrupt in civil and criminal cases.[40] The USA government designates Tunisia's Judiciary as only "nominally independent" and notes that all judges are appointed by the Minister of Justice.[41] The military does not play an obvious role in politics letting the ex-army man President run the country.
In reality, all power is monopolized formally by Ben Ali and his party - which incidentally is housed in Tunis's tallest tower - and informally by influential families such as the all powerful Trabelsi[42] from the president's young second wife's side, Leila, a former coiffeuse.[43][44][45][46][47] The regime's rhetoric is paradoxical: the slogan of the President's party is "change" while the Presidency's person and policies have been the same for decades!
The rubber stamp parliament repeatedly passes laws that make Tunisia appear democratic to outsiders. Since 1987 Tunisia has formally reformed its political system several times, abolishing life presidency and opening up the parliament to opposition parties. The President's official speeches are full of references to the importance of democracy and freedom of speech.[48] According to Amnesty International, however, "the Tunisian government is misleading the world as it conveys a positive image of the human rights situation in the country while abuses by its security forces continue unabated and are committed with impunity".[49] The result is a sense of depression among the thinking classes and Tunisians abroad.[50][51]The regime has been growing increasingly repressive even after the complete defeat of Islamist extremists in the early 90's.[52][53]
Censorship in Tunisia is severe. In practice no public criticism of the regime is tolerated and all direct protest is severely suppressed and does not get reported in the media as was the case with the public demonstrations against nepotism and corruption in 'Redayef' near the city of Gafsa, in the country's south, in 2008.[54][55] Self-censorship is widespread with people fearing the police which is present everywhere and frequently stops and searches individuals and vehicles - often demanding small amounts of bribe money to make up for their meagre salaries. There is a much encouraged and apparently organised personality cult. Daily newspapers run eulogistic articles praising the President whose picture graces the first page on a daily basis, often alongside similar articles and pictures of his wife, Leila.[56] Large pictures of President Ben Ali and 'spontaneously' erected banners praising him are found on all public buildings and majors streets.[57][58][59][60][61] The country's latest built airport was also named after President Ben Ali.[62]
Internet censorship is severe with banned sites including YouTube. Reporters without borders includes Tunisia in the country list of 'Enemies of the Internet' together with North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan.[63][64] In January 2010 US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton mentioned Tunisia and China as the two countries with the greatest internet censorship.[65] Nevertheless the internet has witnessed a considerable development with more than 1.1 million users and hundreds of internet cafes, known as ‘publinet.’ This is primarily related to the widespread unemployment and lack of democracy and opportunities resulting in millions of bored unemployed graduates.[66] Hundreds of thousands of young men avoid compulsory conscription and live with the constant fear of arrest although it appears that the police only go after them in certain times of the year only (the 'raffle') and often let them go if a sufficient bribe is paid.[67] Thousands of unemployed young men attempt illegal immigration to Europe by sea and often die in the process.
There are many signs that the regime has become a kleptocracy with corrupt members of the Trabelsi family, most notably in the cases of Imed Trabelsi and Belhassen Trabelsi, controlling much of the business sector in the country.[68] In its January/February 2008 issue, the Foreign Policy Magazine reported that Tunisia's First Lady had been using the 737 Boeing Business Jet[69] of the government to make "unofficial visits" to European Fashion Capitals, such as Milan, Paris and Geneva. The report mentioned that the trips are not on the official travel itinerary. Bloggers tracked the official airplane on spotting webpages as Airliners.net. The first lady has been described as a shopaholic.[70][71] Recently Tunisia refused a French request for the extradition of two of the President's nephews, from Leila's side, who are accused by the French State prosecutor of having stolen two mega-yachts from a French marina.[72] Rumours have been circulating that Ben Ali's son-in-law Sakher al-Materi (the husband of Zine and Leila's daughter Nessrine) is being primed to eventually take over the country. As of October 2009, he has used family privileges and connections to create a place for himself in the country's economy, and is making his political debut.[73]
[edit]2009 National elections
Main article: Tunisian general election, 2009
On October 25, 2009, national elections were held in Tunisia in "an atmosphere of repression".[74] The election appeared predetermined. Ben Ali faced three obscure candidates, two of whom said they actually supported the incumbent. No independent observer was allowed to monitor the vote. The election consisted of a presidential one and a parliamentary one. As expected, the sitting president Zinedine Ben Ali won a landslide victory, with 89.62%. His opponent, Mohamed Bouchiha, received 5.01%. The candidate who was most critical of the regime, Ahmed Ibrahim, of the Ettajdid party received only 1.57% after a 'campaign' in which he was not allowed to put posters up or hold any kind of meeting.[75] The president's party, the CDR, also got the majority of votes for the parliamentary election, 84.59%. The Movement of Socialist Democrats party received 4.63%.[citation needed]
The election received criticism in foreign media.[76] Human Rights Watch has reported that parties and candidates were denied exposure equal to the sitting president, and that the Ettajdid party's weekly publication, Ettarik al-Jadid, was seized by authorities.[77] According to the Committee to Protect Journalists "97% of newspaper campaign coverage was devoted to President Ben Ali amid severe restrictions on independent reporting. Ben Ali’s government went after the country’s journalist union, bringing down its democratically elected board, while his police bullied and harassed critical reporters. Two journalists, one of them a leading critic of the president, were in jail in late year. Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, who had published two articles in French newspapers that were critical of the regime, has been incarcerated since October 29, 2009. The Court of Appeal upheld a sentence of nine years on 3- January 2010 in a trial that "confirmed the complete absence of independence of the Tunisian legal system" the defendant's French lawyer William Bourdon said [78] Florence Beaugé, a correspondent for the French daily Le Monde, tried to cover the polling but was put on a flight back to Paris on October 21.[79]
Candidate  | Percentage of votes (%) |
|---|---|
| Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (RCD) | 89.62% |
| Mohamed Bouchiha (PPU) | 5.01% |
| Ahmed Linoubli (UDU) | 3.80% |
| Ahmed Ibrahim (ME) | 1.57% |
[edit]Economy
Main article: Economy of Tunisia
Tunisia has a diverse economy, ranging from agriculture, mining, manufacturing, petroleum products and tourism. In 2008 it had a GDP of $41 billion (official exchange rates), or $82 billion (purchasing power parity).[80] It also has one of Africa and the Middle East's highest per-capita GDPs (PPP).[81] The agricultural sector stands for 11,6% of the GDP, industry 25,7%, and services 62,8%. The industrial sector is mainly made up of clothing and footwear manufacturing, production of car parts, and electric machinery. Although Tunisia managed an average 5% growth over the last decade it continues to suffer from a high unemployment especially among youth.
Tunisia was ranked the most competitive economy in Africa and the 40th in the world by the World Economic Forum.[82] Tunisia has managed to attract many international companies such as Airbus[83] and Hewlett-Packard.[84]
The European Union remains Tunisia's first trading partner, currently accounting for 72.5% of Tunisian imports and 75% of Tunisian exports. Tunisia is a one of theEuropean Union’s most established trading partners in the Mediterranean region and ranks as the EU’s 30th largest trading partner. Tunisia was the firstMediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, in July 1995, although even before the date of entry into force, Tunisia started dismantling tariffs on bilateral EU trade. Tunisia finalised the tariffs dismantling for industrial products in 2008 and therefore was the 1st Mediterranean country to enter in a free trade area with EU.[85]
Tunisia also attracted large Persian Gulf investments (especially from United Arab Emirates) the largest include:
- Mediterranean gate: a US$ 25 billion project to build a new city in the south of Tunis.[86]
- Tunis Sport City: an entire sports city currently being constructed in Tunis, Tunisia. The city that will consist of apartment buildings as well as several sports facilities will be built by the Bukhatir Group at a cost of $5 Billion.[87]
- Tunis Financial harbour: will deliver North Africa’s first offshore financial centre at Tunis Bay in a project with an end development value of US$ 3 billion.[88]
- Tunis Telecom City: A US$ 3 billion project to create an IT hub in Tunis.[89]
[edit]Real estate market
In recent years Tunisia has embarked on a new market. Since the beginning of the 2000´s, the real estate market has grown. The market focuses partially on residencies for private persons, but also larger projects aimed at the tourist and sales market. Notable investors reside in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
[edit]Oil and gas extraction
Oil production of Tunisia is about 97 600 barrels/day. The main field is El bourma.[90]
[edit]Energy
The majority of the electricity used in Tunisia is produced locally, by stateowned company STEG (Société Tunisienne de l´Electricité et du Gaz). In 2008 a total of 13 747 GHW was produced in the country.[92]
[edit]Oil and gas
Oil production began in 1966 in Tunisia. Currently there are 12 oil fields.[93] Below is a list of the oil fields:
| Oil field | Oil field |
|---|---|
| 7 November oil field | El Menzah field |
| Ashtart field | Belli field |
| Bouri field | Cercina field |
| El Biban field | El Borma field |
| Ezzaouia field | Miskar field |
| Sidi El Kilani field | Tazarka field |
[edit]Nuclear energy
Tunisia is on the path of installing two nuclear powerplants within a 10 year period. Each one of these is projected at producing 900-1000 MW. In its effort to obtain nuclear energy, France is set to become an important partner. Tunisia and France have inked agreements, where France will deliver training and know-how amongst others.[94][95]
[edit]Desertec project
The Desertec project is a large-scale energy project aimed at installing solarpower panels in, and a grid connecting North Africa and Europe. Tunisia will be a part of this project, but exactly how it may benefit from it remains to be seen.
[edit]Transportation
Main article: Transport in Tunisia
Further information: Rail transport in Tunisia
- The country maintains 19 232 km of roads,[96] where the A1 Tunis-Sfax, P1 Tunis-Libya and P7 Tunis-Algeria are major highways.
- There are 30 airports in Tunisia, with Tunis Carthage International Airport and Monastir International Airport being the most important ones. A New airport Zine El Abidine Ben Ali International Airport was completed at the end of October 2009, and is due to open December 2009. However, it appears flights are unlikely to start before the Easter season of 2010. The airport is located North of Sousse at Enfidha, and is likely to serve the resorts of Hamammet and Port El Kantoui, together with inland cities such as Kairouan. There are four airlines headquartered in Tunisia: Tunisair,Karthago Airlines, Nouvelair and Sevenair.
- The railway network is operated by SNCFT, and amounts to 2135 km in total.[96] The Tunis area is served by a tram network, named Metro Leger.
[edit]Religion
Main article: Religion in Tunisia
The constitution declares Islam as the official state religion and requires the President to be Muslim. Tunisia also enjoys a significant degree of religious freedom, a right enshrined and protected in its constitution which guarantees the freedom to practice one's religion.[97]
The country has a culture that encourages acceptance of other religions; religious freedom is widely practiced. With regards to the freedom of Muslims, the Tunisian government has restricted the wearing of Islamic headscarves (hijab) in government offices and it discourages women from wearing them on public streets and public gatherings. The government believes the hijab is a "garment of foreign origin having a partisan connotation". There were reports that the Tunisian police harassed men with "Islamic" appearance (such as those with beards), detained them, and sometimes compelled men to shave their beards off.[98] In 2006, the Tunisian president declared that he would "fight" the hijab, which he refers to as "ethnic clothing".[99]
Individual Tunisians are tolerant of religious freedom and generally do not inquire about a person's personal beliefs.[97]
The majority of Tunisia's population (98%) are Muslims, while 1% follow Christianity and the rest (1%) adhere to Judaism or other religions.[100]However, there are no reliable data on the number of practicing Muslims. Some reports stipulate that atheists form the second largest group in the country (making it probably on top of any other North African country).[101]
Tunisia has a sizable Christian community of around 25,000 adherents; mainly Catholics (20,000) and to a lesser degree Protestants. Judaism is the country's third largest religion with 1,500 members. One-third of the Jewish population lives in and around the capital. The remainder lives on the island of Djerba, where the Jewish community dates back 2,500 years.[97]
Djerba, an island in the Gulf of Gabès, is home to El Ghriba synagogue, which is one of the oldest synagogues in the world. Many Jews consider it a pilgrimage site with celebrations taking place there once every year. In fact, Tunisia along with Morocco has been said to be the only Arab country with comparatively less antisemitism.[102]
[edit]Governorates & cities
[edit]Governorates
Main articles: Governorates of Tunisia and Delegations of Tunisia
Tunisia is subdivided into 24 governorates, they are:
The governorates are divided into 264 "delegations" or "districts" (mutamadiyat), and further subdivided into municipalities (shaykhats)[103] and sectors (imadats).[104]
[edit]Major cities
| City | Population |
| Tunis | 3 980 500 |
| Sfax | 277 278 |
| Sousse | 164 123 |
| Kairouan | 119 794 |
| At Tadaman | 118 487 |
[edit]Military
Main article: Military of Tunisia
The Tunisian armed forces are divided into three branches:
- Army
- Air Force
- Navy
Tunisia's military spending is 1.6% of GDP (2006). The army is responsible for national defence and also internal security.
[edit]Geography
Main article: Geography of Tunisia
Tunisia is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Valley. It is bordered by Algeria in the west and Libya in the south-east. An abrupt southern turn of its shoreline gives Tunisia two faces on the Mediterranean.
Despite its relatively small size, Tunisia has great geographical and climatic diversity. The Dorsal, an extension of the Atlas Mountains, traverses Tunisia in a northeasterly direction from the Algerian border in the west to the Cape Bon peninsula. North of the Dorsal is the Tell, a region characterized by low, rolling hills and plains, although in the northwestern corner of Tunisia, the land reaches elevations of 1,050 meters.
The Sahil is a plain along Tunisia's eastern Mediterranean coast famous because of its olive monoculture. Inland from the Sahil, between the Dorsal and a range of hills south of Gafsa, are the Steppes. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert.
Tunisia has a coastline 1,148 kilometres in length. In maritime terms, the country claims a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi), and a territorial sea of 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi).
Tunisia's climate is temperate in the north, with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers.[109] The south of the country is desert. The terrain in the north is mountainous, which, moving south, gives way to a hot, dry central plain. The south is semiarid, and merges into the Sahara. A series of salt lakes, known aschotts or shatts, lie in an east-west line at the northern edge of the Sahara, extending from the Gulf of Gabes into Algeria. The lowest point is Shatt al Gharsah, at -17 m, and the highest is Jebel ech Chambi, at 1544 metres.
[edit]Region
The region of Tunisia has some deserts, including part of the Sahara Desert in the south. In the north and mid the land is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia does not get so cold in the winter that it snows, but the temperature still can get below 0 °C (32 °F). In the summer it can get up to 32 °C (89.6 °F). Most of Tunisia has four seasons.
[edit]Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Tunisia
The majority (98%)[110] of modern Tunisians are Arab or arabized Berber,[111] and are speakers of Tunisian Arabic. However, there is also a small (1% at most)[112] population of Berbers located in the Jabal Dahar mountains in the South East and on the island of Jerba, though many more have Berber ancestry. The Berbers primarily speak Berber languages, often called Shelha.
The small European population (1%) consists mostly of French and Italians. There is also long established Jewish community in the country, the history of the Jews in Tunisia going back some 2,000 years. In 1948 the Jewish population was an estimated 105,000, but by 2003 only about 1,500 remained.[113]
The first people known to history in what is now Tunisia were the Berbers. Numerous civilizations and peoples have invaded, migrated to, and been assimilated into the population over the millennia, with varying influxes of population via conquest and settlement from Phoenicians/Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and French.
Additionally, after the Reconquista and expulsion of non-Christians and Moriscos from Spain, many Spanish Moors and Jews also arrived at the end of the 15th century. In addition, from the late 1800s to after World War II, Tunisia was home to large populations of French and Italians (255,000 Europeans in 1956),[114] although nearly all of them, along with the Jewish population, left after Tunisia became independent.
Religion in Tunisia is dominated by Islam, to which a majority of Tunisians (98%) adhere.[115] One of the most ancient Jewish communities in the world resides in Jerba, where religious diversity thrives. The southern Tunisian island is home to 39 synagogues.
[edit]Language
Tunic Arabic is the local vernacular of Arabic and is considered Tunisia's official language. As is the case in the rest of the Arab world, a local variety of Arabic is used by the public. Tunisian Arabic is closely related to the Maltese language.[116] There is also a small minority of speakers of Shelha, a Berber language.[117]
Due to the former French occupation, French also plays a major role in the country, despite having no official status. It is widely used in education (e.g. as the language of instruction in the sciences in secondary school), the press, and in business. Most Tunisians are able to speak it. Many Tunisians, particularly those residing in large urban areas, readily mix Tunisian Arabic with French, a dialectal melange often informally called 'Frarabic'.
[edit]Education
Education is given a high priority and accounts for 6% of GNP. A basic education for children between the ages of 6 and 16 has been compulsory since 1991. Tunisia ranked 17th in the category of "quality of the [higher] educational system" and 21st in the category of "quality of primary education" in The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-9, released by The World Economic Forum.[118]
While children generally acquire Tunisian Arabic at home, when they enter school at age 6, they are taught to read and write in Standard Arabic. From the age of 8, they are taught French while English is introduced at the age of 12.
Main article: List of universities in Tunisia
Colleges and universities in Tunisia include:
- Ecole Polytechnique de Tunisie
- International University of Tunis
- Université Libre de Tunis
- Université de l'Aviation et Technologie de Tunisie
- Institut National d'Agronomie de Tunis
- Université des Sciences de Tunis
[edit]Culture
Main article: Culture of Tunisia
The culture of Tunisia is mixed due to their long established history of conquerors such as Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, Spaniards, and the French who all left their mark on the country.
[edit]Sports
The most popular sport in Tunisia is football. The national football team, also known as "The Eagles of Carthage" have participated in four World Cup Championships. The team's record is shown below:
| Year in World Cup | Result |
|---|---|
| 1978 | 1st Round |
| 1998 | 1st Round |
| 2002 | 1st Round |
| 2006 | 1st Round |
The premier football league is the "Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1". The main clubs are Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Club Africain, Sfaxian Sportive Club andÉtoile Sportive du Sahel.
[edit]Handball
The national team has participated in several handball world championships. In 2005 Tunisia came 4th. The national league consists of about 12 teams, with ES. Sahel and Esperance S.Tunis dominating.
The most famous tunisian handball player is Wissem Hmam. In the 2005 handball championship in Tunis, Wisam Hmam was ranked as the top scorer of the tournament.
[edit]Swimming
In the 2008 Olympics, Tunisian Oussama Mellouli won a gold medal in 1500 freestyle.
[edit]Festivals
- Matmata Festival - Matmata (March)
- Festival Oriljazz (April)
- Festival "Tozeur, the Oriental, the African" (April)
- International spring festival - Sbeitla (April)
- Arab poetry festival - Tozeur - (April)
- Carthage Jazz festival - Gammarth (April)
- Tozeur’s International Oasis Festival - Tozeur (December)
- Techno House festival - Gammarth (December)
- Dar Sebastian celebrates opera festival - lyrical festival -(December)
- Caravana Latina” Festival - Tozeur (December)
- Traditional Saharan festival - Douz (December)
[edit]International rankings
| Organization | Survey | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for Economics and Peace [1] | Global Peace Index[119] | 44 out of 144 |
| United Nations Development Programme | Human Development Index | 98 out of 182 |
| Transparency International | Corruption Perceptions Index | 65 out of 180 |
| World Economic Forum | Global Competitiveness Report | 40 out of 133 |
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