There was even a huge production of mosaics and ceramics, exported mainly to Italy, in the central area of El Djem (where there was the second biggest amphitheater in the Roman Empire). A basic education for children between the ages of 6 and 16 has been compulsory since 1991. Anger and violence intensified following Bouazizi's death on 4 January 2011, ultimately leading longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to resign and flee the country on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power. [91], In March 2012, Ennahda declared it will not support making sharia the main source of legislation in the new constitution, maintaining the secular nature of the state. [200], A new exposition opened in an old monarchal palace in Bardo dubbed the "awakening of a nation". Tunisia Visa General Information and Eligibility. [137], On 29 and 30 November 2016, Tunisia held an investment conference Tunisia2020 to attract $30 billion in investment projects. The people of Carthage worshipped a pantheon of Middle Eastern gods including Baal and Tanit. Along the Mediterranean coast, resort towns like Hammamet provide an abundance of sun and sea; while the southern Sahara is populated by dramatic desert landscapes, fascinating Berber villages and abandoned Star Wars sets. In addition to the cultivations and the capture and transporting of exotic wild animals from the western mountains, the principal production and exports included the textiles, marble, wine, timber, livestock, pottery such as African Red Slip, and wool. [200] These galleries include Gallery Yahia in Tunis and Carthage Essaadi gallery. Visa required for U.S. citizens before you go to Tunisia: No. Tunisia was in 2009 ranked the most competitive economy in Africa and the 40th in the world by the World Economic Forum. Favorite Answer. Communities of Tunisian Christians would still exist in Nefzaoua up to the 14th century. Under French colonization, European settlements in the country were actively encouraged; the number of French colonists grew from 34,000 in 1906 to 144,000 in 1945. In November 1987, doctors[68] declared Bourguiba unfit to rule and, in a bloodless coup d'état, Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed the presidency[66] in accordance with Article 57 of the Tunisian constitution. In the last years of the Hafsid dynasty, Spain seized many of the coastal cities, but these were recovered by the Ottoman Empire. Population. [citation needed], The national bibliography lists 1249 non-school books published in 2002 in Tunisia, with 885 titles in Arabic. [109], The Tunisian legal system is heavily influenced by French civil law, while the Law of Personal Status is based on Islamic law. From 1942–1943, Tunisia was the scene of the Tunisia Campaign, a series of battles between the Axis and Allied forces. Following a report by Amnesty International, The Guardian called Tunisia "one of the most modern but repressive countries in the Arab world".[67]. As for poetry, Tunisian poetry typically opts for nonconformity and innovation with poets such as Aboul-Qacem Echebbi. Tunisia Has The 4th Most Important City In The Islamic World. Portugal, officially The Portuguese Republic, is a country in southern Europe, founded in 1143, occupying a total area of 92,212 km 2. Refers to the Maghreb countries, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria and Libya. [154] According to another source the population of Arabs is estimated to be <40%[155] to 98%,[128][156][157] and that of Berbers at 1%[158] to over 60%. However, the Turks brought with them the teaching of the Hanafi School during the Ottoman rule, which still survives among the Turkish descended families today, and their mosques traditionally have octagonal minarets. According to Matthew Carr, "As many as eighty thousand Moriscos settled in Tunisia, most of them in and around the capital, Tunis, which still contains a quarter known as Zuqaq al-Andalus, or Andalusia Alley. The antisemitic Statute on Jews enacted by the Vichy was also implemented in Vichy Northwest Africa and overseas French territories. In 2014 Tunisian American creative nonfiction scribe and translator Med-Ali Mekki who wrote many books, not for publication but just for his own private reading translated the new Constitution of the Tunisian Republic from Arabic to English for the first time in Tunisian bibliographical history, the book was published worldwide the following year and it was the Internet's most viewed and downloaded Tunisian book. Tunisia has a coastline 1,148 kilometres (713 mi) long. [205] In 2006 this figure had increased to 1,500 and 1,700 in 2007. Tunisia has achieved the highest access rates to water supply and sanitation [76], Independent human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Freedom House, and Protection International, documented that basic human and political rights were not respected. Since January 2011 and at the direction of the executive branch, the military has taken on increasing responsibility for domestic security and humanitarian crisis response. It still finds itself hanging between inflation and unemployment while looking up to the 6 October elections with hope of a reform. Tunisia is situated on the Mediterranean coast of Northwest Africa, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Delta. Education System . [60] With this treaty, Tunisia was officially made a French protectorate, over the objections of Italy. [128] The government has supported a successful family planning program that has reduced the population growth rate to just over 1% per annum, contributing to Tunisia's economic and social stability. After a series of campaigns beginning in 1534 to conquer and colonize the region, the Ottoman Empire established control in 1574 and held sway for over 300 years afterwards. Tunisia. The official language is Arabic. General Erwin Rommel, the German commander in Africa, wished to defeat the Allies in Tunisia, as the Germans had done in the Battle of France when the Allies were inexperienced against the German Blitzkrieg. This has changed since, as the media censorship by the authorities have been largely abolished, and self-censorship has significantly decreased. Eventually the new government gave in to the demands. In 2010, there were 6,639,000 French-speakers in Tunisia, or about 64% of the population. [54] The Almohads initially ruled over Tunisia through a governor, usually a near relative of the Caliph. [114], Since the revolution, some non-governmental organizations have reconstituted themselves and hundreds of new ones have emerged. An abrupt southward turn of the Mediterranean coast in northern Tunisia gives the country two distinctive Mediterranean coasts, west–east in the north, and north–south in the east. Around 1200 they succeeded in extending their rule over the whole of Tunisia until they were crushed by Almohad troops in 1207. Other languages remained untouched, such as the Russian Туни́с (Tunís) and Spanish Túnez. The Tunisia national handball team has participated in several handball world championships. Farming methods reached the Nile Valley from the Fertile Crescent region about 5000 BC, and spread to the Maghreb by about 4000 BC. Culture. The chamber serves for five-year terms. The remainder lives on the island of Djerba with 39 synagogues where the Jewish community dates back 2,600 years,[184] in Sfax, and in Hammam-Lif. [163], The first people known to history in what is now Tunisia were the Berbers. The competition will be held in Tunis, Tunisia from 18 … [136], Tunisia Economic City is a city being constructed near Tunis in Enfidha. [50][53], The main Tunisian cities were conquered by the Normans of Sicily under the Kingdom of Africa in the 12th century, but following the conquest of Tunisia in 1159–1160 by the Almohads the Normans were evacuated to Sicily. It was there in 670 AD that the Mosque of Uqba, or the Great Mosque of Kairouan, was constructed. [147], According to the Tunisian Solar Plan (which is Tunisia's Renewable Energy Strategy not limited to solar, contrary to what its title may suggest, proposed by the National Agency for Energy Conservation), Tunisia's objective is to reach a share of 30% of renewable energies in the electricity mix by 2030, most of which should be accounted for by wind power and photovoltaics. As of 2011[update], access to You can choose to explore by 4x4 or as people have done since Biblical times: on the back of a camel. Paramilitary forces consisted of a 12,000-member national guard. The general rule is to keep an arms length away when speaking to someone. Close relations with Europe, particularly with France[19] and with Italy,[20][21] have been forged through economic cooperation, privatization, and industrial modernization. [132], The European Union remains Tunisia's first trading partner, currently accounting for 72.5% of Tunisian imports and 75% of Tunisian exports. [102], Tunisia is a representative democracy and a republic with a president serving as head of state, a prime minister as head of government, a unicameral parliament, and a civil law court system. safe drinking water became close to universal approaching 100% in urban [79] In 2008, in terms of Press freedom, Tunisia was ranked 143rd out of 173.[80]. [citation needed]. [191], In 2017 a handful of men were arrested for eating in public during Ramadan; they were convicted of committing "a provocative act of public indecency" and sentenced to month-long jail sentences. [86], Protests continued for banning of the ruling party and the eviction of all its members from the transitional government formed by Mohammed Ghannouchi. The capital of Tunisia is Tunis, located in the far north of the country. [167][168], French also plays a major role in Tunisian society, despite having no official status. [194] Education is given a high priority and accounts for 6% of GNP. [59] Tunisian international debt grew unmanageable. [139], Among Tunisia's tourist attractions are its cosmopolitan capital city of Tunis, the ancient ruins of Carthage, the Muslim and Jewish quarters of Jerba, and coastal resorts outside of Monastir. [42] This mosque is the oldest and most prestigious sanctuary in the Muslim West with the oldest standing minaret in the world;[43] it is also considered a masterpiece of Islamic art and architecture. In essence, the media was dominated by state authorities through the Agence Tunis Afrique Presse. SS Commander Walter Rauff continued to implement the Final Solution there. The Central Bank of Tunisia announced that the digitisation of the Tunisian dinar has started and that the paper-backed CBDC will be issued on the Universa Blockchain. Many Jews consider it a pilgrimage site, with celebrations taking place there once every year due to its age and the legend that the synagogue was built using stones from Solomon's temple. Infoplease has everything you need to know about Tunisia. [69] The anniversary of Ben Ali's succession, 7 November, was celebrated as a national holiday. [142], Oil production of Tunisia is about 97,600 barrels per day (15,520 m3/d). protection of water environment and combating pollution. General information about Tunisia (Casalanca, Tunis and Sousse) Answer Save. general information about Tunisia? Tunisia,[a] officially the Republic of Tunisia,[b][18] is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, covering 163,610 square kilometres (63,170 square miles). [211] Nonetheless, the current regulatory framework and social and political culture mean that the future of press and media freedom is still unclear.[211]. Tunisia is a year-round destination, but if you're heading to the north, the best weather occurs between May and October. [199], After independence in 1956, the art movement in Tunisia was propelled by the dynamics of nation building and by artists serving the state. A new airport, Enfidha – Hammamet International Airport opened in 2011. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent. The Tunisian national handball team won the African Cup ten times, being the team dominating this competition. [145][146] As of 2015[update], Tunisia has abandoned these plans. After the series of wars with Greek city-states of Sicily in the 5th century BC, Carthage rose to power and eventually became the dominant civilization in the Western Mediterranean. In Tunisia you pay with the Tunisian Dinar (short: TND or DT). [140], Sources of electricity production in Tunisia[141], The majority of the electricity used in Tunisia is produced locally, by state-owned company STEG (Société Tunisienne de l'Electricité et du Gaz). "[164], Arabic is the official language, and Tunisian Arabic, known as Tounsi,[165] is the national, vernacular variety of Arabic and is used by the public. Some independent organizations, such as the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, the Association of Tunisian Women for Research and Development, and the Bar Association also remain active. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. 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. [12] Tunisia's name is derived from its capital city Tunis, which is located on its northeast coast. [54] International Religious Freedom Report for 2007 estimates thousands of Tunisian Muslims have converted to Christianity. 1 Answer. Following the Battle of Carthage which began in 149 BC during the Third Punic War, Carthage was conquered by Rome in 146 BC. [161], From the late 19th century to after World War II, Tunisia was home to large populations of French and Italians (255,000 Europeans in 1956),[162] although nearly all of them, along with the Jewish population, left after Tunisia became independent. The navy had 4,800 personnel operating 25 patrol boats and 6 other craft. [196] The life expectancy at birth was 75.73 years in 2016, or 73.72 years for males and 77.78 years for females. Arabic literature dates back to the 7th century with the arrival of Arab civilization in the region. Tunisia is located in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast. Aside from the president, Tunisians enjoy a significant degree of religious freedom, a right enshrined and protected in its constitution, which guarantees the freedom of thoughts, beliefs and to practice one's religion. In addition, Tunisia is also a member state of the United Nations and a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Differences in Tunisia, like the rest of the Maghreb, are largely north–south environmental differences defined by sharply decreasing rainfall southward from any point. In fact, the executive power is given to the president. Tunisian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture 22 Rue de Carthagène El Manar I 2092 TUNIS Tunisie Phone: (216) 71 88 96 74-75 (216) 71 88 97 04 portable SG: 00216 98536581 [15], The word Tunisia is derived from Tunis; a central urban hub and the capital of modern-day Tunisia. [103] Tunisia (#69 worldwide) is the only democracy in North Africa. General Information . In Tunisia the position of women is much more equal than in many Arab countries and women visiting will find few problems in the major cities, though in restaurants and hotels questions and bills will initially be presented to the men in the party. [117], The Tunisian regime has been criticised[by whom?] Despite the prestige of the new masters, the country was still unruly, with continuous rioting and fighting between the townsfolk and wandering Arabs and Turks, the latter being subjects of the Muslim Armenian adventurer Karakush. [160] By 1870 the distinction between the Arabic-speaking mass and the Turkish elite had blurred. [134] The Tunis Financial harbour will deliver North Africa's first offshore financial centre at Tunis Bay in a project with an end development value of US$3 billion. During this era the governing councils controlling Tunisia remained largely composed of a foreign elite who continued to conduct state business in the Turkish language. The gross enrollment rate at the tertiary level in 2007 was 31 percent, with gender parity index of GER of 1.5. General Information. supervision of small and medium water supplies in the remaining rural After the revolution however, a moderate Islamist government was elected leading to more freedom in the practice of religion. English customers need adapters (3 pin plug to 2 pin plug). Tunisia has a very unique location. The further south you go, the climate gets more arid; and in the southern desert, it is hot, dry and sunny all year round. Sahel and Esperance S.Tunis dominating. [34][35][36], At the beginning of recorded history, Tunisia was inhabited by Berber tribes. General Information . services in the Middle East and North Africa. Since 1993, ONAS has had the status of a main operator for [73] The First Lady Leila Ben Ali was described as an "unabashed shopaholic" who used the state airplane to make frequent unofficial trips to Europe's fashion capitals. The plague epidemics ravaged Tunisia in 1784–1785, 1796–1797 and 1818–1820.[58]. In 2006, the former Tunisian president declared that he would "fight" the hijab, which he refers to as "ethnic clothing". The city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC by Phoenicians. The ITF Board decided to send a strong message to the Tunisian Tennis Federation that this kind of action will not be tolerated. The founders of Carthage also established a Tophet, which was altered in Roman times. General information from Tunisia - Wikipedia Tunisian Republic. It has also made room for the rise of fundamentalist groups such as the Salafists, who call for a strict interpretation of Sharia law. for its policy on recreational drug use, for instance automatic 1-year prison sentences for consuming cannabis. From the conclusion of the Second Punic War in 202 BC, Carthage functioned as a client state of the Roman Republic for another 50 years.[38]. 9,889,900 (official estimate 2002). Location: Mediterranean, Tunisia Categories: About/General Information. [89] International and internal observers declared the vote free and fair. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Tunisian Oussama Mellouli won a gold medal in 1500 meter freestyle. [113], After the revolution, a number of Salafist groups emerged and in some occasions have violently repressed artistic expression that is viewed to be hostile to Islam. Tunisia’s economic freedom score is 55.8, making its economy the 128th freest in the 2020 Index. [99], Tunisia is home to five terrestrial ecoregions: Mediterranean conifer and mixed forests, Saharan halophytics, Mediterranean dry woodlands and steppe, Mediterranean woodlands and forests, and North Saharan steppe and woodlands. 1600s - Tunisia becomes part of the Turkish Ottoman empire, but has a high degree of autonomy. Its east–west extent is limited. [199], There are currently fifty art galleries housing exhibitions of Tunisian and international artists. In 2008, a total of 13,747 GWh was produced in the country. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert. It lies between latitudes 30° and 38°N, and longitudes 7° and 12°E. [185], Djerba, an island in the Gulf of Gabès, is home to El Ghriba synagogue, which is one of the oldest synagogues in the world and the oldest uninterruptedly used. Miscellanea offerta in onore di Luigi Serra, a cura di A.M. Di Tolla", TUNISIA 2018 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT, "The Last Christians of North-West Africa: Some Lessons For Orthodox Today", International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Tunisia, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census", "Pilgrims flock to Tunisia's Djerba Jewish festival | Lamine Ghanmi", "4 Tunisians jailed for eating during Ramadan", "The country where people are forced to observe Ramadan", "National adult literacy rates (15+), youth literacy rates (15–24) and elderly literacy rates (65+)", "The Global Competitiveness Report 2008–2009", "Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | Data", "Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) | Data", "A Tunis, une exposition réveille l'histoire précoloniale du pays", "La littérature tunisienne de langue française (Mémoire vive)". " It is bordered by Algeria on the west and southwest and Libya on the south east. The Medes settled and were known as Mauri, later Moors. After this success, the Almohads installed Walid Abu Hafs as the governor of Tunisia. [95], The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in building a peaceful, pluralistic political order in Tunisia.[96]. It is widely used in education (e.g., as the language of instruction in the sciences in secondary school), the press, and business. Progress and Completion … During the reign of the Hafsid dynasty, fruitful commercial relationships were established with several Christian Mediterranean states. Called the Granary of the Empire, the area of actual Tunisia and coastal Tripolitania, according to one estimate, produced one million tons of cereals each year, one-quarter of which was exported to the Empire. [216] In the 2012 Summer Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the 1500 meter freestyle and a gold medal in the Men's marathon swim at a distance of 10 kilometers. Tunisia's status during Roman times is evident in the well-preserved ruins at El Jem and Carthage, while Tunis offers all the cultural and culinary opportunities you'd expect from a major capital. [192], The total adult literacy rate in 2008 was 78%[193] and this rate goes up to 97.3% when considering only people from 15 to 24 years old. 3 -General Information: Tunisia 2018 Open International Competition 1 Competition information NPC Tunisia and World Shooting Para Sportare pleased to invite you to the Tunisia 2018 Open International Competition. Tunisia was suspended from Davis Cup play for the year 2014, because the Tunisian Tennis Federation was found to have ordered Malek Jaziri not to compete against an Israeli tennis player, Amir Weintraub. In ancient times, Tunisia was primarily inhabited by Berbers. General information; Useful links; General information / About Portugal / General information; Geographic Location. [75] Ben Ali's son-in-law Sakher El Materi was rumoured as being primed to eventually take over the country. Economic liberalisation provided further opportunities for financial mismanagement,[72] while corrupt members of the Trabelsi family, most notably in the cases of Imed Trabelsi and Belhassen Trabelsi, controlled much of the business sector in the country. In 1869, Tunisia declared itself bankrupt and an international financial commission took control over its economy. In another development, Youssef Rekik reused the technique of painting on glass and founded Nja Mahdaoui calligraphy with its mystical dimension. According to The New York Times, Tunisia is "known for its golden beaches, sunny weather and affordable luxuries". In 1930 "The Rachidia" was founded well known thanks to artists from the Jewish community. In the Khroumerie, the northwestern corner of the Tunisian Tell, elevations reach 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) and snow occurs in winter. However, it was not until the final Ottoman reconquest of Tunis from Spain in 1574 under Kapudan Pasha Uluç Ali Reis that the Ottomans permanently acquired the former Hafsid Tunisia, retaining it until the French conquest of Tunisia in 1881. [110] The Code of Personal Status remains one of the most progressive civil codes in North Africa and the Muslim world.