Tunisia

Geography

Of a 164150 km surface ², Tunisia TUNIS capital is the most oriental countries of the Maghreb. She is divided into 3 geographic zones.Littoral Tunisia is a region of plains and hills. Little populated, little urbanized, internal Tunisia is the region the most sprayed with the country. Fertile depressions cross her, as the valley of Medjerba, the longest river of the country.

The Tunisian Ridge establishes a climatic barrier, which isolates the northeast of the country of Sahara. Beyond the depression of the chott-el-Djérid, occupied by a salt lake, begin Saharan Tunisia which occupies 55 % of the total surface of the country.

The North benefits from a Mediterranean climate, while the South is dry.

Population

Mainly Arabic, the Tunisian population practises the Sunni Islam. The berbérophone community represents only 1 % of the population. The growth of the population is fast, and the proportion of less than 15 years was raised.

The main part of the population, the cities, the wealth and the industrial and tourist activities concentrate on coasts. About 65 % of the Tunisians live in city. Tunis, the capital, is the industrial and commercial metropolis of the country.

The second city of Tunisia, Sfax is the main metropolis of the South. Gabès welcomes an important complex of chemical industries. The island of Djerba is characterized by its strong tourist activity.

History

At the end of the IIth millennium BC, Phéniciens creates counters on the African rib, of which Carthage, in the northeast of the country. From VIth s BC, Carthage, become independent, increases its influence in the Mediterranean Sea and becomes the rival of Rome.

The Punic wars end by the defeat of Carthage and Romans create the province of Africa. The realm numide, on the West and in the South of current Tunisia, is annexed by Rome to 1^Er S BC The Christianity spreads from the IIIth century.

At the time of the decline of the Roman Empire, the Vandals seize Carthage. Then, the Arabs invade Tunisia in the VIIth century. In 1574, Tunis is taken by the Turks and the region becomes a province of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1881, the treaty of Bardo makes of Tunisia a French protectorate. The national demands appear very early. The Italian activity during the Second World war still weakens the French presence.

In 1956, Tunisia acquires its independence. On one year later, the Republic is proclaimed. Habib Bourguiba becomes a president of the Republic.

The current president, Ben Ali, engages Tunisia on the way of the economic reforms by a progressive opening abroad.

His re-election, at the end of 1999, activated deep demonstrations to denounce the regime.

October 21,2000, took place the closing off the Tunisian representation in Such Aviv and the Israeli office in Tunis

April 11, 2002 year attack in Jerba against the synagog off Ghriba
May 26, 2002 the bearing Referendum one the reform off the Constitution, allowing inter combined, the president Ben Ali to request one 4th 4 years elects, approval with 99, 61% off the voices.

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