Country Profile
From The Report: Tunisia 2018
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Tunisia has a small, principally homogeneous population, emerging from a diverse background of civilisations, which makes the modern population a mix of Arab, Ottoman and Berber, to name but a handful. In 1956, the country gained independence from France and established a constitution modelled on the French system. In 2011, during the Jasmine Revolution, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled from 1987, was ousted. Following the Tunisian revolution, the country has been transitioning into a democracy and adopted a new constitution in January 2014. This chapter contains a viewpoint with President Beji Caid Essebsi; and an interview with Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Liberal horizons: Recent political achievements build on a rich and diverse past
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After the modern Tunisian Republic was founded in 1956, Habib Bourguiba, known as the father of the nation, tempered the influence of religion, pushed for women’s rights in the Personal Status Code and created secular, coeducational and bilingual schools, making Tunisia a leading modern example regionally. Building on these foundations, following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution Tunisia rose to become a leading example of a successful post-Arab Spring democracy. Today, Tunisia is among the…

Viewpoint

Peace and prosperity: President Beji Caid Essebsi, on why Tunisia expects success in strengthening democracy and ensuring stability and growth
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Viewpoint:Beji Caid Essebsi We are encouraged by the better economic performance achieved by Tunisia during the year 2017. The GDP growth rate reached 2% that year, while in the preceding years it did not exceed the 1% mark. In 2018 we hope to attain a GDP growth rate of 3%. We will continue working to achieve better results despite the constraints we continue to face, and we will pursue even more ambitious goals during the years ahead. Our confidence is built on the entrepreneurship and hard…

Interview

Push for policy: Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), on the importance of regulatory frameworks in supporting the private sector
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Interview: Akinwumi Adesina What has been done to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) entering the formal sector of Africa’s economy? AKINWUMIADESINA: The AfDB estimates that the informal economy in Africa accounts for 50-80% of GDP, 60-80% of employment and as much as 90% of new jobs. The quality of the regulatory framework is vital in a firm’s decision to join the formal sector. Almost all firms at this stage are SMEs, which account for over 90% of Africa’s private sector.…

Interview

Push for policy: Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), on the importance of regulatory frameworks in supporting the private sector
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Interview: Akinwumi Adesina What has been done to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) entering the formal sector of Africa’s economy? AKINWUMIADESINA: The AfDB estimates that the informal economy in Africa accounts for 50-80% of GDP, 60-80% of employment and as much as 90% of new jobs. The quality of the regulatory framework is vital in a firm’s decision to join the formal sector. Almost all firms at this stage are SMEs, which account for over 90% of Africa’s private sector.…

Overview

Post-revolution transition: Securing political stability is central to economic development
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The Republic of Tunisia established a unitary semi-presidential democratic government after its independence from France in 1956. Under the reign of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled from 1987 to his ousting in the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, political stability and a measure of economic prosperity prevailed, even while political and social freedoms were curtailed. The new 2014 constitution allows greater press and religious freedom as well as moves towards gender equality. The…

Analysis

Outwardly engaged: Moves are in progress to establish the country as a key political and economic player in Africa
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Since the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, Tunisia has not only developed fundamentally at the domestic level, but also in its external relations. New and old alliances, a broadening of relations, and new forms of civil society activism – alongside Tunisia’s growing presence in international organisations – certify that the country has the potential to play an increasingly central role regionally as well as internationally. The government has an extensive diplomatic network, with embassies…