Short DescriptionTunisia is a land of North Africa bathed by the Mediterranean sea , in the North East. It is a land of lights and colours, its rich history is witnessed by the vestiges and the monuments left over by successive civilizations. It has an area of 163,600 km² and a population of 9 Millions inhabitants. The capital city is Tunis where sits a democratic governmeent and a presidential republic. The official language is Arabic. But most Tunisians understand several languages such as French (as a second language) and English. The currency is the Dinar which is equal to 5.5 french francs.
 | Géographie |
The geography of Tunisia is a very diversified one: mountains in the north, desert in the south, steppes in the West, salted lakes in the South West and beaches in the East. Tunisia reckons close to 52,9 % of city dwellers; the demographic growth is diminishing ( family planning policy since 1964). About 350 000 tunisians live abroad, mainly in France. The economy is diversified as well. Agriculture employs 33% of the active population and has developed extensive irrigated plantations in the North. Petroleum, gas and phosphates are the principal ressources for exportation and have permitted the creation of important industrial complexes on the coaslines while the textile and assembly activities have been developed in the cities. Tourism and petroleum provide important income. The country is one of the most developed countries in Africa.
| Histoire |
Tunisia is inhabited originally by the berbers. Then it was occupied from the 9th to the 2nd century B.C. by the Phoenicians who founded Carthage. Following the crushing of the Carthaginians, the Romain made of it their African Province. Devastated by the Vandals and the Byzantines through numerous wars, the country fell back until the arrival of the Arabs who developed the economy of the region and founded Kairouan (670). Dependant on the Omeyyades followed by the Abbassides, but governed by local dynasties, Ifriqiyya acquired little by little a certain independance. At the end of the 16th century, the Ottoman conquest made of Tunisia one of the principal bases of barbaresque pirates. In 1881 and 1883, France established a Protectorate. The nationalist opposition has grown up and since 1952 led Mendès France to grant the country an internal autonomy (1954(, then the Independance (1956). In 1957, the Constituent Assembly abolished the Monarchy of the Beys and gave the leadership of the Country to Habib Bourguiba. From 1960 to 1969, progressive choices dominated the economical policy. The social policy placed the emphasis on scolarization (1/4 of the budget) and the emancipation of the woman. A member of the Arab League since 1958, Tunisia has always followed a moderate policy between the East and the West. In 1969, Liberalism has replaced the ''socialists'' options. In 1987, Ben Ali, Minister of the Interior and then Prime Minister, acceeded to power and undertook to pull out the regime from its archaism. He was elected to the Presidency of the Republic in 1989 and reelected in 1994 and 1999.
Tunisia is therefore a country where thrive multiple cultures which have left a huge archeological and cultural heritage. Nowadays, Tunisia is oriented towards development.
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