Tunisia

The Tunisia (rear RTL تونس) is a Pays of North Africa pertaining to the the Maghreb. It is bordered in north and the east by the Mediterranean. Its western border opens on the Algérie (965 km) and its south-eastern border on the Libya (459 km). Its name is derived from that of its capital, Tunis, located in the north of the country.

Nearly 40% of the Superficie of the territory is occupied by the desert of the the Sahara, the remainder making up of very fertile grounds, cradle of the Carthaginian Civilization which reached its apogee at third century BC, before becoming the “attic with corn” of the Roman Empire.

Called a long time Regency of Tunis , in particular under the Othoman domination, Tunisia passes under French protectorate in 1881. With the advent of the Independence, on March 20th, 1956, the country takes the official name of Royaume of Tunisia under the reign of Lamine Bey, only Tunisian sovereign to carry the title of King. With the proclamation of the Republic, on July 25th, 1957, it Habib Bourguiba is the nationalist leader which becomes the first president of the Tunisian République and modernizes the country. However, at the end 30 years of reign whose end is marked by the Clientélisme and the rise of the Islamisme, the Prime Minister Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali ends up depositing it but continues consequently the main objectives of the bourguibism while liberalizing the economy.

Integrated into the principal authorities of the international community, Tunisia also forms part of the Arab Ligue, the African Union and the Communauté of the sahélo-Saharan States.

History

Prehistory

Many traces of human industry dating from the Paléolithique inferior testify to the seniority to the settlement to current Tunisia.

With 20 kilometers in the east of Gafsa, the site Moustérien of El Guettar (old of more than: 40000 years) delivered a structure formed by a round heap of stones laid out in a cone of approximately 75 centimetres in height for a diameter of 130 centimetres. These round stones, in Calcareous or Flint, are sometimes worked. It are associated with animal Os sements of , Dent S and objects of flint cut moustériens as well as a pédonculée point Atérien. Mr. Gruet, the archeologist who discovered it, interprets this structure like a building carried out in offering with the close source, drained today, and translating a religious feeling or magic. It is known under the name of Hermaïon d' El Guettar , by reference to the stone heaps built in the Antiquité in relation to the worship of Hermes, and is exposed with the National museum of Bardo.

A epipaleolithic civilization littoral known as Ibéromaurusien and another known as Capsien does not succeed the Neolithic . At this period, the human presence is conditioned by the formation of the the Sahara which acquires its current Climat. In the same way, it is at that time that the settlement of current Tunisia sees its population growing rich by the contribution by the Berbères.

Tunisia enters the Histoire with the expansion of the Phénicie NS which, seeking to develop their sales network, founded a series of counters in the Western basin of the Mediterranean and beyond the Straits of Gibraltar. That of these counters which experiences the most considerable development is Carthage which is founded on the Tunisian coast by Tyr iens in 814 av. J. - C.. According to the legend, it is the queen Élyssa (Didon at the Romains), sister of Pygmalion, king de Tyr, who founds the city.

Of punic Carthage in Carthage Roman

Christianization

While being established in Tunisia, and in the Maghreb in general, the Christianisme does not encounter only against the imperial edicts but initially a true popular opposition. Indeed, while being established among these populations, Christianity tears a very tight social fabric. The Paganism impregnating the daily life, the Christians are led to live with the variation of the domestic life and the public life. The cohesion of the family and the city east thus threatened, which involves responses as the confusion of Christian tombs by these populations. As of the 2nd century, Carthage also applies imperial persecutions: the implementation of the imperial edict is led with strength. Those which refuse to adopt the official worship are subjected to the Torture to tear off a show of tender to them. If they are obstinated in the refusal, their goods are confiscated and they are banished or even off-set. But, in spite of this difficult situation, the new faith is established much more quickly than in Europe in particular because of the social role of the Église which appears in second half of the 3rd century. The gradually being established Church of Africa, Carthage becomes, at the 4th century, one of the largest spiritual capitals of Occident: Tertullien, holy Cyprien or holy Aurèle of it is originating and the Donatisme, schismatic doctrines then declared heretic, takes his rise between 4th and the 5th century.

In 429, carried out by their chief Genséric, the Vandales cross the Straits of Gibraltar. Ten years later, after being itself returned Masters of Hippone, they enter Carthage where they install to them kingdom for nearly one century. The latter are followers of the Arianisme, which does not facilitate the relations between them and the notable catholic buildings mainly . The latter are persecuted since they try to be opposed to the capacity vandal: many men of the church are Martyr ized, even imprisoned Exil are in camps in the south of Gafsa. However, the Latin Culture is largely preserved and prosperous Christianity as long as he is not opposed to the sovereign in place.

The Vandals themselves, become the Masters of the the Roman Province richest of the Empire, let themselves go to softness food of Tunisia. The recruitment of their Armée suffers from it so much so that they prefer to enlist Berber autochtones (romanized for the majority). However, incompetents to contain the hostile tribes of the Banou Ifren which are agitated at the borders of their territory, their defeat in front of these last, in 530, provides to the Byzantine emperor Justinien the occasion to seize the territory (September 533). The major part of the people vandal is off-set towards the Orient, being useful like slaves, while others are enlisted of liking or force in the Byzantine army like auxiliary soldiers. Justinien then makes of Carthage the seat of sound Diocèse of Africa. Following the crisis monothelist, the Byzantine emperors, opposed to the local Church, are diverted of Carthage. Moreover, in prey with ceaseless quarrels and religious fights, the Byzantines cannot more integrate in the structure of their empire the Berber ones who raise themselves on several occasions.

Arabisation and Islamization of Tunisia

In this context, three forwardings are necessary so that the Arabs succeed in conquering Tunisia. Moreover, the conversion of the tribes is not held uniformly and knows resistances, specific Apostasie S or the adoption of Syncrétisme S. the Arabisation will still be done in a slower way but will end up being total.

The first forwarding is launched in 647. The exarque Gregoire is beaten with Sbeïtla, which shows the existence of weak points at the Byzantines. In 661, the one second forwarding is launched and ends in the catch of Bizerte. The third, carried out in 670 by Oqba Ibn Nafaa is decisive: Ibn Nafaa founds the town of Kairouan during the same year and the city becomes the center of the forwardings launched against the north and the west of the the Maghreb. The complete invasion failed to fail with the assassination of Ibn Nafaa in 683 and the Moors manage to drive out the Arab troops out of Kairouan. These last return in 688 but are pushed back in Libya. In 695, they succeed in taking Carthage with the Greeks but the Byzantines take it again in 696. The city is definitively conquered in 698.

Contrary to the preceding invaders, the Arabs are not satisfied to occupy the coast and undertake to conquer the interior of the country. After having once more valiantly resisted, the Berber ones, after the defeat of the Kahena, convert with the religion of their new conquerors. However, refusing the assimilation, they are numerous to reject the dominant religion and to adhere to the Kharidjisme, heresy born in the East and proclaiming the equality of all the Moslems without reference to races nor of classes. In 745, the Berber kharidjites seize Kairouan besides. The area remains a province omeyyade until in 750.

In 800, the Caliph Haroun rear-Rachid delegates her power in Ifriqiya to the emir Ibrahim ibn Al-Aghlab who establishes the Dynastie Aghlabides which reigns there during one century. Tunisia becomes an important cultural hearth with the radiation of Kairouan. Important and successive waves of Arab immigrants, come from the Arabic peninsula and more generally from the the Middle East, are installed on the Tunisian territory and often mix with the Berber populations autochtones. Aghlabides obtain important a Flotte of combat to draw aside the danger coming from the sea. In December 909, Abu Abd Allah Al-Husayn Al-Shi' I, helped by the Berber ones which refuse the domination aghlabide, states to go down from Fatima Zahra (girl of Mahomet), proclaims chief and Imam of Tunisia and founds the dynasty Shiite Fatimides. The latter consequently declare like usurpers the Caliph S Omeyyades and Abbassides rejoined with the Sunnisme.

In 921, the town of Mahdia is founded and proclaimed capital of the caliphate fatimide. The third caliph, Ismâ `it Al-Mansûr, transfers the capital fatimide to Kairouan and seizes Sicily in 948.

When Fatimides move their base in Egypt in 972, the Zirides take little by little their independence with respect to those. Installed in Kairouan then with Mahdia, the rupture with Fatimides intervenes in 1048 on the initiative of the sovereign who then receives from the Abbasid caliph the title of “commander of the believers to the government of all Maghreb”. While breaking with its suzerain fatimide, it thus inaugurates the era of the emancipation of the Berber ones. In reprisals, Fatimides send wandering tribes of Egypt, cash several hundreds of thousands of members, the Hilaliens, to invade the area. Kairouan, however strengthened, resists during five years but ends up being occupied. The shops are plundered, the shot down public edifices and the ransacked houses. This wandering “invasion” is however characterized by a diffuse integration whole families, breaking traditional balance between Berbères nomads and sedentaries. It follows quite naturally an interbreeding of the population. However, the political crumbling of Ifriqiya, consequence of the disappearance of Zirides, plunges the country in anarchy. But, like Mahdia and the other towns of Ifriqiya, Tunis ends up falling to the hands from the sultan almohade Abd Al-Mumin during its forwarding which installs north of the Morocco in 1159. Well before the arrival of Hilaliens, and as from second half of the 7th century, the area opens with the Islam but the Arab language traditional residence still the prerogative of the town elites and the courtiers. With the invasion hilalienne and the additional establishment of hundreds of Arab thousands of immigrants, the Dialecte S Berber go, if not to yield the place to the Arab language, at least to become more or less marked by the Arabisation.

With crossed covetousnesses

Starting from the first third of the 12th century, Tunisia is regularly attacked by the Normands of Sicily and the south of the Italy (Royaume normanno-sicilian). In 1135, the Norman king Roger II seizes Jerba. In 1148, it is Mahdia, Sousse and Sfax which falls to the hands from the Norman ones. However, they will be gradually driven out and Mahdia, their last fortified town, is taken again by the Almohades Morocco ains only in January 1160. In same time the unification of the the Maghreb takes place. The economy becomes flourishing and of the commercial relations are established with the main cities of the Mediterranean circumference (Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles, Venice and certain towns of Spain). Rise also touches the cultural field with works of the large historian and father of the Sociologie Ibn Khaldoun. Almohades entrust Tunisia to Abd Al-Wâhid ibn Hafs but his/her son Abû Zakariyâ' Yahyâ separates from them in 1228 and founds the news Dynastie Hafsides. It reigns during three centuries and becomes completely independent as of 1236. The {{S mini|XV|E}} and {{S mini|XVI|E}} centuries see the arrival of the Moslem Moors and Jewish Andalusian driven out of Spain by the reconquest (or Reconquista ).

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Maghreb passes through a major political crisis which allows the emergence of principalities and on independent harbor cities which start again the activity of the Corsaire S. the sovereigns of Spain, Ferdinand d' Aragon and Isabelle de Castille, to protect their coasts, decide to continue the reconquest until on the Maghrebian coasts. In ten years, they conquer several places: Seas el Kébir, Oran, Candle, Tripoli and the small island located opposite Algiers. To release itself some, the authorities of Algiers request the assistance of two famous corsairs: the brothers Arudj and Khayr AD-DIN Barberousse. This intervention is an major event which marks the one period beginning of confrontation between Spain and the Ottoman Empire for the domination of the territories of the Maghreb and that of the Western basin of the Mediterranean. In 1534, Khayr AD-DIN Barberousse seizes Tunis but is obliged to flee after the taken city by the Spaniards of Charles Quint. The Othoman government then decides to finally obtain the fleet which it misses. In 1560, Dragut takes Jerba following the battles éponyme and, 35 years later, Tunis is definitively taken again by the Othomans. In 1575, Tunisia becomes a province of the empire but the governors live cut off in the ports, the Bedouin being delivered to themselves. The conquest of the interior is really completed only by Ali I Bey and Hammouda Bey. Tunis, but also Algiers and Tripoli, become consequently for the Christians “regencies Barbaresque S”. The 17th century sees a progressive emancipation of regencies with respect to the Othoman supervision because, the Othomans being very few in the Maghreb, their role does not cease decreasing with the profit of the natives.

At the end of a few years of Turkish administration (1590), them: 4000 Janissaire S of Tunis rise and place at the report heading a dey, and his order, a bey in charge of the control of the territory and collection of the taxes. Quickly, this last becomes the main character of regency at the sides of the pasha, which is confined in the honorary role of representative of the Othoman sultan, so much so that a dynasty beylicale is founded by Mourad Ier in 1612. During the same period, the activities of the corsairs know their paroxysm because increasing autonomy with respect to the sultan involves a fall of his financial support and regencies must thus increase the number of their catches on sea in order to survive.

The 18th century does not see to set up Tunis and its neighbors in quasi-independent States, the dynasty of the Husseinites not recognizing any more but one vague bond of subjection with respect to the sultan. They do not pay him any more a tribute but send gifts to him. In same time, the race, if it does not disappear, largely declines. Moreover, the diversion towards the Atlantic of most of the commercial traffic as well as bad management beylicale involves the financial strangulation of the territory which is coveted more and more by Europeans.

Protectorate and nationalist fight

Indeed, Tunisia seems an strategic issue with the hinge of the basins Western and Eastern of the Mediterranean. It is thus the object of rival covetousnesses of France and Italy, the first intending to ensure the safety of its Algerian territories and to prevent that Italy does not oppose its ambitions in Egypt and with the Raising by taking control of the access of the Eastern Mediterranean. Confronted with a worrying overpopulation, the leaders of the young kingdom of Italy dream of a great colonial policy and this territory, where the European minority is made up essentially of Italians, is an objective whose conquest constitutes a priority for the government of Rome. Roustan and Maccio, both consuls French and Italian, are spent without hoping to benefit from the financial problems of the bey. The incursions of the plunderers kroumirs in Algerian territory provide the pretext necessary and Jules Ferry, supported by Leon Gambetta, makes the point that it is necessary to go to seize in Tunisia the “key the Algerian house”. In April 1881, the French troops penetrate in the country and Sadok Bey, not trying to resist, agrees to sign, the May 12th, the Traité of Bardo which makes of Tunisia a Protectorat French. In 1883, after having subdued a rising of tribes, the French entrust to the organization of the conquest to the resident general Paul Cambon. After one period of military administration, civil controllers from Algeria replace the Caïd S buildings.

The country is then marked by deep changes concerning all the fields: it is equipped with a railway, road and harbor infrastructure, the objective of the Colonisation being the seizure on the resources of the country. One also starts the exploitation of the mining resources and important investments in a Agriculture mechanized with high outputs. However, the progressive of economic situation and social degradation causes the formation of a Bourgeoisie reformist, nationalist effervescence and the conscientisation of the indigenous population. The liberation movement main road emerges with intellectuals of two tendencies: those resulting from the College Sadiki and the University Zitouna of which Béchir Sfar and Ali Bach Hamba and those resulting from the College Carnot of which Abdeljelil Zaouche and Hassen Guellaty. In 1911 and 1912, several riot S started in Tunis at the time of the italo-Turkish war give the starting point of a movement of opposition organized but being the subject of a very hard repression. After the First World War, the creation of the Destour, in 1920, revival the nationalist movement which nevertheless is touched by the arrest and the exile, in 1925, of the leaders of the General confederation of the Tunisian workers. The crisis of the Years 1930 and the political changes, which have occurred in France and Europe, support the birth of new political organizations, trade-union, philanthropic, sporting, cultural and of youth. This new dynamics allows Habib Bourguiba, helped by his/her comrades Mahmoud Materi, Tahar Sfar and Bahri Guiga, to leave Destour and to create, the March 2nd 1934, the Néo-Destour.

However, the authorities of protectorate try to contain any attempt at inversion of the established order: the chiefs of Néo-Destour are off-set in the south of the released countries then, in 1936, by the government of Leon Blum which opens stopped negotiations in June 1937. Bloody incidents occur in July and again cause the arrest of the leaders of Néo-Destour and the proclamation, in 1938, of the state of siege. During the Second world war, Tunisia becomes the theater of the first common operations between the American armed and its allied British in 1942 - 1943. The principal British army corps ordered by the general Bernard Montgomery advances starting from Libya, after its victory in the battles of El-Alamein, in direction of the south of Tunisia (Ligne Mareth) while the United States and others allied approaches by the west following their unloading in Algeria and with the Morocco (Opération Torch). Germany being then committed in the Battle of Stalingrad, it is easy to consider the Campagne of Tunisia as a minor event but actually it has an significant impact: it opens the road of Sicily and Italy to the Alliés. The conflict stops hardly the action of the nationalists: as of the end of the Years 1940, the movement becomes extensive. To have tried to channel with its profit the nationalist ideas, Moncef Bey is deposited after the release which puts an end to the German occupation country (November 1942 - May 1943). It is replaced by his cousin Lamine Bey.

In August 1950, this last forms a government in which the general secretary of Néo-Destour takes part. However, vis-a-vis the excuses of France, Bourguiba is solved with confrontation and encourages armed resistance. It is again stopped in January 1952. Into 1954, the things change abruptly with the arrival of Pierre Mendès France with the head of the French government: France agree to negotiate with the nationalists. In a made speech with Carthage, the July 31st, Mendès France is committed granting the internal autonomy which is the subject of signed conventions, the June 3rd 1955, with Tahar Ben Ammar. March 20th, 1956, a protocol abolishes the treaty of Bardo and recognizes the independence of Tunisia.

Independent Tunisia

Policy

See also: Political of Tunisia, President of the Republic of Tunisia, Tunisian Political parties

Interior policy

The president of the Republic of Tunisia is elected every five years with the Vote for all and it can present to the elections once as much than it wants in so far as it has less than 75 years. Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the current holder of the station, is elected on October 24th, 2004 for a fourth mandate. Tunisia knows only two presidents during his modern history: Habib Bourguiba (July 25th 1957 - November 7th 1987), with like Prime Ministers Bahi Ladgham, Hédi Nouira, Mohamed Mzali, Rachid Sfar and Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, then Ben Ali (since the November 7th 1987) with like Prime Ministers Hédi Baccouche, Hamed Karoui and Mohamed Ghannouchi. The legislative power, bicameral since 2002, is exerted by the House of Commons, composed of 189 deputies (including 37 of the opposition) elected by the vote for all, and by the Chambre of the advisers (which holds his inaugural session on August 16th, 2005) which includes/understands 112 members.

The current constitution is that which is proclaimed on June 1st 1959, three years after independence. It underwent several amendments of which that of the July 12th 1988 to limit the number of presidential mandates to three (after Bourguiba had been proclaimed life president) and that of June 1st 2002 following the Référendum held the May 26th of the same year, in particular allowing the suppression of the limit of the number of presidential mandates, the lengthening of the limiting age to deposit a candidature for the presidency, the introduction of a legal Immunité for the president (during and after the performance of its duties) and the introduction of a bicameral Parlement.

The RCD, party in power, was during 25 years the only legal political party - whereas it bore the name of PSD - and always dominates the political life with more than two million asserted members. The political scene of the country currently counts six legal political parties of opposition, a minimum of 20% of the 189 seats of the House of Commons being guaranteed them by the law.

The political lack of transparency, weak the Freedom of expression and the censure (in particular many press and Web sites) make that a precise political situation of Tunisia is difficult to determine. Many a international ONG points finger the attacks with the human rights in Tunisia in particular with regard to the breaches of liberty of expression, the political prisoners and of opinion held, the instrumentalisation of justice by the Executive power, the Torture and the situation in the Tunisian Prison S, as well as the harassing of all dissidence political.

Foreign policy

The first president, Habib Bourguiba, chooses the non-alignment during the Cold war while having close relationships with the Europe and the the United States. Its successor, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, maintains the tradition Tunisian of good relationships with the Occident while playing an active role in the Arab and African regional authorities: the country accommodates, in May 2004, the 16th ordinary session of the top of the Arab Ligue (of which it is member since 1958) and regularly sends humanitarian Aid to the Palestinians and the States arabo-Moslems in crisis like the Lebanon, in 2006, or the Indonesia after the tsunami of December 26th, 2004. The country is also a founding member of the OAU, whose it takes the presidency in 1994 - 1995, before taking part in the foundation of the African Union in July 2002. Tunisia also supported the development of the Union of the Arab Maghreb which includes the Algérie, the Morocco, the Mauritania and the Libya. However, its progress remains limited because of tensions between Algeria and Morocco in connection with the the Western Sahara. In February 2001, Tunisia adheres to the Communauté sahélo-Saharan States and accommodates the seat of the African Banque of development in 2003.

The country is for a long time a voice regulator on the question of the the Middle East: Bourguiba is thus the first Arab leader to call with the recognition of Israel by the Arab countries in a speech made with Jericho the March 3rd 1965. The country shelters the general headquarter of the Arab League of 1979 with 1990 as that of PLO of 1982 with 1993 (until its executive committee settles in the Occupied territories although its political department remains in Tunis). The country also plays a moderating part in the peace negotiations in the Middle East: Tunisia is the first Arab country to receive an Israeli delegation in 1993, within the framework of the peace process, and maintains a representation in Israel until the beginning of the the Second Intifada in 2000.

Wedged between Algeria and Libya, Tunisia always sought to maintain good relationships with its neighbors in spite of occasional tensions. Tunisia and Algeria solved a long frontier argument in 1993 and cooperated in the construction of the driving Gazoduc Transmediterranean towards the Italy. Tunisia in addition recently signed an agreement with Algeria to dissociate the maritime border between the two countries. With respect to its other neighbor, the relations with are more difficult starting from cancellation by Tunisia of an agreement aiming to the formation of a Union tuniso-Libyan woman in 1974. The diplomatic relations are broken between 1976 and 1977 then worsen again in 1980 when rebels supported by Libya try to take the town of Gafsa. In 1982, the the International Court of Justice section the disagreement relating to the partition of the continental shelf frontier (rich person in Oil) in favor of Libya. Expulsion by Libya of many Tunisian workers in 1985 and the military threats American lead Tunisia to restrict their relations which are again standardized as of 1987. While supporting the sanctions of UNO imposed on Libya, following Bombardment S air American, Tunisia takes care to maintain good relationships with its neighbor. It thus supports the lifting of these sanctions in 2003, Libya thus becoming again one of its major business partners. Nevertheless, the two countries still have a maritime dispute on their common border.

Tunisia also asserts its Mediterranean dimension. It takes part thus in the Mediterranean forum, of which it organizes the edition 2005, and becomes the first country of the Mediterranean basin to be signed, the July 17th 1995, an agreement of association with the European Union with an aim of reinforcing its anchoring in Europe. With its nearer close European, Malta, Tunisia currently discusses the oil exploitation of the continental shelf which is between the two countries.

The political action of Tunisia however exceeds the regional borders. At the time of a speech made in front of the General meeting of the United Nations in 1999, president Ben Ali calls with the creation of a world Fonds of solidarity (while taking as a starting point the National solidarity funds) aiming at contributing to the fight against the Pauvreté in the zones most disinherited in the world. The General meeting adopts unanimously, on December 20th, 2002, a resolution creating this fund and founding the practical methods necessary for her installation.

Governorships

Justice

The Tunisian right remains largely inspired by the Droit French, as well in its contents as in its great divisions (public and deprived) and its structures.

Modified on several occasions, the Tunisian constitution guarantees the following basic principles:

the independence of justice (Article 65): according to this provision, the justice and the body of the judges should enjoy a full independence. Actually, Tunisian justice remains influenced by the executive power. Thus, as a chief of the Superior council of the magistrature, the president names by Décret the Magistrat S, revokes them or the transfer on a proposal from the known as council.
guarantee of certain basic principles of the right like the principle of the presumption of innocence (Article 12), the non-retroactivity of the law (Article 13), the inviolability of residence, the freedom of movement and the freedoms of thought, expression, publication, meeting and association. These rights can be however limited by legal tendencies or the safety of State (Article 8-10).

The legal system is specified by the law relating to the legal organization of 1967, the terms of reference (attribution, jurisdiction ratione loci and competence of exception) being stipulated in other texts of which the Criminal procedure code of the July 24th 1968. The legal system is composed of two great units: civil jurisdictions (ordinary, penal and special) placed under the control of the ministry for justice and the special jurisdictions: Court of Arbitration, real Court, Council of State (Administrative court and Court of Auditors), High court (intended to judge the crime of treason made by a member of the government) and military Tribunal (which is not a jurisdiction of exception according to the Tunisian authorities). The field of competence of this last extends mainly to the breaches of security main road and interior safety from the State.

Geography

Climate

The Climat of Tunisia is divided into seven bioclimatic zones, the great difference between north and the remainder of the country being due to the chain of the Tunisian Dorsale which separates the zones subjected to the Mediterranean Climat from those subjected to the arid climate generated by the the Sahara. Because of its geographical location, the Tunisian climate is influenced by various types of Vent S: the northern coast is exposed to the winds marine blowing since the south of the France, which causes a significant decrease of the temperatures and a rise of the Précipitation S, and the south of the country to the hot and dry winds the such blowing Sirocco on the great desert extents and the plains. The country also profits from a rate of important sunning (exceeding: 3000 hours per annum). The Température S vary because of the Latitude, the Altitude and the proximity or the distance of the Mediterranean. If it can make a few degrees below 0°C in Hiver in the mountains of Kroumirie, the temperature climbs sometimes in be around 50°C in the desert areas. The annual Pluviométrie also varies according to the areas: of approximately: 1000 millimetres in north with approximately 380 millimetres in the center and approximately 300 millimetres in the south.

Environment

The Flore varies much according to the areas: that of the coastal regions is similar to that of southernmost Europe and includes/understands meadows, Garrigue, maquis and forests of cork oak. More in the south, the vegetation is of standard steppe with a predominance of the Alfa. In the arid areas of the extreme south, the Oasis are planted of date palms.

Eight natural surfaces were set up in national parks. The National park of Ichkeul, which extends on: 12600 Hectare S, is registered on the list of the world heritage of UNESCO. There exist also 16 natural reserves the purpose of which are to be a habitat for species having a value ecological and economic and as a vulnerable ecosystem S.

According to a study of the Mediterranean program of WWF, the coastal region of the North-West appears among the 13 sites of the Mediterranean which is characterized by their natural wealth, them Biodiversité and their vegetable and animal Espèce S single.

Human geography

See also: Urbanization of Tunisia, List of the municipalities of Tunisia

Tunisian space unequally appears populated and developed on the socio-economic level according to a Gradient interior-littoral (west-east). The thirteen coastal governorships add up 65,3% of the total population with a strong population density (140 inhabitants per km ²). The economy is diversified there and it is the activity Industrie which is dissociated more with the concentration of 85% of the industrial plants of the country and even of 87,5% of employment in this economic sector.

Tunisia is urbanized to 64,9% (2005) and knows a rate of annual urbanization of 3,6%. The urban network is on the Eastern littoral tape, between the areas of Tunis and Gabès while passing by the the Sahel and Sfax (center-is country), which has greatest economic infrastructures and concentrates more than 80% of the urban population. Principal the Agglomération S is:

Tunis: : 728453 inhabitants (: 2083000 by integrating Large Tunis)
Sfax: : 265131 inhabitants (: 500000 by integrating Large Sfax)
Sousse: : 173047 inhabitants (: 400000 by integrating Large Sousse)
Kairouan: : 117903 inhabitants
Gabès: : 116323 inhabitants (: 170000 by integrating Large Gabès)
Bizerte: : 114371 inhabitants (: 150000 by integrating Large Bizerte)

Economy

Transport

Demography

See also: Demography of Tunisia, Tunisian abroad

Whereas the vast majority of the Tunisians (98%) are culturally identified with the Arab , certain studies tend to indicate that they would be ethniquement closer to the Berbères but also to certain Europeans: Compared with other communities, our result indicates that the Tunisians are very related to the North-Africans and with Europeans of the West, in particular with Iberian, and that the Tunisians, the Algerians and the Morrocans are close to Berber, suggesting a small genetic contribution of the Arabs who populated the area with or 8th siècle. However, of many civilizations invaded the country then were comparable to differing degree: Phéniciens, Roman, Vandals coming from Germany, Othoman and finally French. Moreover, much of Moors and Juifs arrived of Andalusia at the end of the 15th century.

The first Eastern Arabs, come as from the 7th century with the Moslem conquests, contributed to the Islamisation of the major part of the Ifriqiya. On this occasion create for themselves some new cities of which Kairouan and Mahdia. It is as from the 11th century, with the arrival of the driven out tribes hilaliennes Egypt, that the Arabisation linguistic and cultural becomes determining. Certain groups, descendants of Berber, however knew preserved their language and their habits, often because of their geographical enclavement. Indeed, nowadays, they often live the areas of mountains (Matmata, Tataouine, Gafsa or Sbeïtla). However, the Berber ones, which represents a strong ethnic minority in Morocco and in Algeria, remain very few in Tunisia. But Tunisia is also a country which knows also an important rate of emigration: the number of Tunisians residing abroad is evaluated with: 885000 people. 83% of them reside in Europe of which: 511000 in France.