Tunisia
Tunisia is a
Muslim Arab country situated on the North
African Mediterranean coast. It borders on
Algeria to the west and
Libya to the south and east.
History
\nMain article: History of Tunisia
Tunisia was the site of Carthage, a state conquered by the
Roman Empire, which withdrew in the
5th century. It was conquered by
Arab Muslims in the
7th century, and later became part of the
Ottoman Empire.
In the
19th century it remained officially Ottoman but increasingly independent. It was made a
French protectorate in
1881. It achieved independence in
1956, and has had two presidents since.
Politics
\nMain article: Politics of Tunisia
Tunisia is a republic with a strong
presidential system dominated by a single political party. President
Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali has been in office since 1987 when he deposed
Habib Bourguiba, who had been President since Tunisia's independence from France in 1956. The ruling party, the Constitutional Democratic Assembly (RCD), was the sole legal party for 25 years--when it was known as the Socialist Destourian Party (PSD)--and still dominates political life. The President is elected to 5-year terms--with virtually no opposition--and appoints a Prime Minister and cabinet, who play a strong role in the execution of policy. Regional governors and local administrators also are appointed by the central government; largely consultative mayors and municipal councils are elected. There is a unicameral legislative body, the Chamber of Deputies, which has 182 seats, 20% of which are reserved for the opposition. It plays a growing role as an arena for debate on national policy but never originates legislation and virtually always passes bills presented by the executive with only minor changes. The judiciary is nominally independent but responds to executive direction especially in political cases. The military is professional and does not play a role in politics. There are currently six legal opposition parties.
Governorates
\nMain article: Governorates of Tunisia
Geography
\nMain article: Geography of Tunisia
Tunisia is in north Africa, between the
Mediterranean Sea and the
Sahara Desert. Much of the land is semi-arid and desert.
Economy
\nMain article: Economy of Tunisia
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.0% in the 1990s, and inflation is slowing. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.\nIn 2008, Tunisia is a completely associated member of the E.U. (comparable to the status of Norway or Iceland).
Miscellaneous Topics
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Category:African countries\nCategory:Maghreb\nCategory:Arab League
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