Tunisia

Tunisia

Country statistics

area:	163,610sq km (63,170sq mi) 9,779,400
capital (population):	Tunis (674,100)
government:	Multi-party republic
ethnic groups:	Arab 98%, Berber 1%,
languages:	Arabic (official), French
religions:	Sunni Muslim 99%
currency:	Dinar = 1000 millimes

Republic in n Africa. Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa. The nw mountain ranges are a comparatively low extension of the Atlas Mountains. In the centre is a depression, containing the Chott Djerid salt lake. In the s lies part of the Sahara Desert. The fertile coastal lowlands include many fine Mediterranean ports, such as Bizerte and the capital, Tunis. Kairouan is the fourth most holy city in Islam.

Climate and Vegetation

Coastal regions have a Mediterranean climate, with dry, sunny summers and mild winters with moderate rainfall. Rainfall decreases and temperatures increase to the s. Some cork oak forests grow in the n mountains. The s plateaux are covered by steppe with coarse grasses. The Sahara is barren, except around oases.

History and Politics

By tradition, the Phoenician Queen Dido founded Carthage in 814 bc. In 146 bc, the Romans destroyed the city, and subsumed the region into the Roman Empire. In ad 640, the Arabs invaded. The Berbers slowly converted to Islam, and Arabic became the principal language. In 1159, the Almohad dynasty conquered Tunisia. From 1230 to 1574, Tunisia was ruled by the Hafsids.

Spain's capture of much of Tunisia's coast led to the intervention of the Ottoman Empire, and the rule of Turkish governors (beys) continued into the 20th century. In the 16th century, Tunisia's harbours were a refuge for Barbary pirates. In 1881, France invaded and Tunisia became a French Protectorate in 1883. French rule aroused strong nationalist sentiment, and Habib Bourguiba formed the Destour Socialist Party (PSD) in 1934.

Tunisia was a major battleground of the North Africa campaigns in World War 2. In 1956, it gained independence. In 1957, the bey was deposed and Tunisia became a republic, with Bourguiba as president. In 1975, Bourguiba was proclaimed president-for-life. He pursued a moderate foreign policy and modernizing domestic policies. The first multi-party elections were held in 1981.

In the 1980s, Bourguiba's failing health created a succession crisis and he was deposed by Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in 1987. The PSD became the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), and Ben Ali won a landslide victory in 1989 elections. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1999. The hegemony of the RCD remains a problem for its emerging democracy. In 2003, a bomb attack on a synagogue on the resort island of Djerba killed 21 people; the attack was blamed on al-Qaeda.

Economy

Tunisia is a middle-income developing country (2000 GDP per capita, US$6500). It is the world's sixth-largest producer of phosphates. It also exports crude oil. Agriculture employs 26% of the workforce. Tunisia is the world's fourth-largest producer of olives. Other major crops include barley, dates, grapes for wine-making and wheat. Fishing and livestock-raising are also important. Tourism is a vital source of foreign exchange (1999 receipts, US$1954 million). It has been an associate member of the European Union (EU) since 1969.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.tunisiaonline.com