Tunisia

Tunisia A country on the North African coast, sandwiched between Algeria and Libya, which has its southern part in the Sahara.

Physical

In the north-west of the country are hills, mostly covered in scrub though containing forests of cork-oak. Salt marshes cover the central belt, where there are also large phosphate deposits. The south is sandy but contains oases.

Economy

Crude oil is the mainstay of Tunisia's economy. Other mineral resource include phosphate, iron ore, zinc, and lead. There is natural gas off-shore. Agriculture, though adversely affected by drought and locust plagues is well developed. Tourism also plays an important part in the economy.

History

Tunisia has been the strategic centre of the Mediterranean. PHOENICIANS came first c.1000 BC; and, traditionally, CARTHAGE, seat of a sea-borne empire, was founded here in 814 BC. BERBER caravans came north to exchange produce for imports. Carthage fell in 146 BC, and, despite Berber resistance, Rome made the province of Africa Procon-sularis rich in corn, olives, and vines. VANDALS from Spain took it in 429, but BYZANTIUM recovered it in 533. The Berbers, nevertheless, held the interior, giving way only when the Arabs built Kairouan as an inland base to control Africa. The caliphate was replaced by an independent local dynasty, the Aghlabids, in 800, until 909, when the FATIMIDS took Kairouan. Another local dynasty, the Zirids, replaced them when they moved to Cairo in 969. In revenge, the Fatimids sent thousands of Arab tribesmen to lay waste the country. In the 12th century the Normans from Sicily held some towns, until the ALMOHADS expelled them. Then another local dynasty, the Hafsids (1228–1574) emerged, taking Algiers (1235) and Tlemcen (1242). In 1270 they repulsed the Crusaders under St LOUIS IX. From 1574 until 1881 the Regency of Tunis owed nominal allegiance to the Ottomans, but after 1612 a dynasty of Beys established itself. The Bey of Tunis became increasingly independent and CORSAIRS operated from Tunis, leading to the Tripolitan War with the USA. A period of great prosperity ended when the corsairs and the slave trade were suppressed (1819). During the 19th century, the Bey's control weakened and, in 1881, France declared Tunisia a protectorate. The rise of nationalist activity led to fighting between the nationalists and the colonial government in the 1950s. Habib BOURGUIBA, the nationalist leader, was imprisoned, but was released (1955) when the country achieved independence. The Bey of Tunis abdicated (1956) and the country became a republic led by Bourguiba and the neo-Destour Party. In the 1970s the government's refusal to allow the formation of other political parties caused serious unrest, while subsequent attempts at liberalization were interrupted by fresh outbreaks of rioting in 1984–85. Bourguiba was deposed (1987) and succeeded by President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who introduced a multiparty system in 1988 and was re-elected in 1994. The Islamic fundamentalist party al-Nahdah, however, was suppressed in 1990, and there were violent incidents throughout 1991. Tunisia took a neutral stance over the GULF WAR, as a result of which both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia withdrew investments and the USA cut aid. From 1982 it provided a refuge for the PLO until a peace agreement was made with Israel (1993).

Capital:	Tunis
Area:	154,530 sq km (59,664 sq miles)
Population:	9,380,000 (1998 est)
Currency:	1 Tunisian dinar = 1000 millimes
Religions:	Sunni Muslim 99.4%; Christian 0.3%; Jewish 0.1%
Ethnic Groups:	Arab 98.2%; Berber 1.2%; French 0.2%; Italian 0.1%
Languages:	Arabic (official); French
International Organizations:	UN; OAU; Arab League; Maghreb Union