NEWS


UK Version International
Country profile: Tunisia

Home of the ancient city of Carthage, Tunisia has long been an important player in the Mediterranean, placed as it is in the centre of North Africa, close to vital shipping routes.
In their time, the Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and French realised its strategic significance, making it a hub for control over the region.


French colonial rule ended in 1956, and Tunisia was led for three decades by Habib Bourguiba, who advanced secular ideas. These included emancipation for women - women's rights in Tunisia are among the most advanced in the Arab world - the abolition of polygamy and compulsory free education.

Mr Bourguiba insisted on an anti-Islamic fundamentalist line, while increasing his own powers to become a virtual dictator.

In 1987 he was dismissed on grounds of senility and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali came into office. He continued with a hard line against Islamic extremists, but inherited an economically-stable country.

Although Tunisia has introduced some press freedoms and has freed a number of political prisoners, human rights groups say the authorities tolerate no dissent, harrassing government critics as well as rights activists.

Mr Ben Ali faced reproach at home and abroad for his party's three "99.9%" election wins. The opposition condemned changes to the constitution which allowed him to run for re-election in 2004, and in 2009.


Tunisia enjoys greater economic prosperity than its neighbours and has strong trade links with Europe. Agriculture employs a significant chunk of the workforce, and dates and olives are grown in the drier regions. Coastal resorts draw millions of European tourists every year.


Population: 10 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Tunis
Area: 164,150 sq km (63,378 sq miles)
Major languages: Arabic (official); French
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Main exports: Agricultural products, textiles, oil
GNI per capita: US $2,630 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .tn
International dialling code: +216
LEADERS


President Ben Ali was re-elected for a fourth five-year term in October 2004, in the second multi-party presidential elections since independence.


President Ben Ali took office in 1987

Official results gave him nearly 95% of the vote. The main opposition group, the Democratic Progressive Party, pulled out two days before the vote saying its participation would only legitimise a masquerade of democracy.

Mr Ben Ali, from the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), had been due to retire in 2004 but secured support in a referendum for changes to the constitution allowing him a further two terms.

Born in 1936 in Hammam Sousse, Mr Ben Ali was Tunisia's ambassador in Warsaw in 1980 and became prime minister in October 1987.

He was sworn in as the new president in 1987, after doctors declared President Habib Bourguiba unfit to govern because of senility.


Prime minister: Mohamed Ghannouchi
Foreign minister: Abdelawahab Abdallah
Finance minister: Mohamed Rachid Kechiche
MEDIA


Although freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian constitution, the government tightly controls the press and broadcasting.

The state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates two national TV channels and several radio networks.

Egyptian and pan-Arab satellite TV stations command large audiences. Two London-based opposition TV channels can be received via satellite; Al Mustaqillah TV and Zeitouna TV. Until late 2003 the state had a monopoly on radio broadcasting.

Press codes shape coverage and stipulate large fines and prison sentences for violators. Journals are screened by the authorities before publication and the government encourages a high degree of self-censorship.

Discussion of corruption and human rights in the media is taboo . Editions of foreign newspapers, including French and pan-Arab publications, are regularly seized. There are several privately-run newspapers and magazines, including two opposition party journals.

Media rights organisations say the intimidation of journalists is widespread. In 2002 the editor of a satirical website was jailed for "putting out false news". The editor had placed opposition material on his site.

Internet monitoring is omnipresent in Tunisia. Websites containing content which is critical of the government are frequently blocked. Some rights groups criticised the UN's decision to hold a 2005 conference about the global information society in the country.

The press

Tunisian Radio - state-run
Radio Mosaique - Tunis FM station; Tunisia's first private radio station