Tunisia

Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

• mountains in north;
• hot, dry central plain;
• semiarid south merges into the Sahara

• toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks;
• water pollution from raw sewage;
• limited natural fresh water resources;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

Marine Life Conservation

• strategic location in central Mediterranean;
• Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.93 male(s)/female

total population:

1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

degree of risk:

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A

vectorborne diseases:

may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)

noun:

Tunisian(s)

adjective:

Tunisian

conventional long form:

Tunisian Republic

conventional short form:

Tunisia

local long form:

Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah

local short form:

Tunis

chief of state:

President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)

head of government:

Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
• election last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%

• Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI];
• Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)];
• Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI];
• Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA];
• Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA];
• Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI];
• Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mohamed Nejib HACHANA

chancery:

1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:

[1] (202) 862-1850

FAX:

[1] (202) 862-1858

chief of mission:

Ambassador William J. HUDSON

embassy:

Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La Goulette, Tunisia

mailing address:

use embassy street address

telephone:

[216] 71 107-000

FAX:

[216] 71 962-115

lowest 10%:

2.3%

highest 10%:

31.8% (1995)

general assessment:

• above the African average and continuing to be upgraded;
• key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis;
• Internet access available

domestic:

trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay

international:

• country code - 216;
• 5 submarine cables;
• satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat;
• coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya;
• participant in Medarabtel;
• two international gateway digital switches

total:

2,152 km

standard gauge:

468 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:

1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

dual gauge:

10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2004)

total:

18,997 km

paved:

12,424 km (including 142 km of expressways)

unpaved:

6,573 km (2001)

total:

12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 124,733 GRT/122,664 DWT

by type:

bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1

registered in other countries:

3 (2005)

• 20 years of age for compulsory military service;
• conscript service obligation - 12 months;
• 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)