National Day of Tunisia

TUNISIA celebrates its National Day today. During this holiday, local leaders lay wreaths in cemeteries and memorial parks to pay tribute to those who perished to achieve the country’s independence.

Located in the northernmost area of Africa, Tunisia is bordered to the west by Algeria, to the southeast by Libya, and to the north and east by the Mediterranean Sea. Having an area of around 165,000 square kilometers, Tunisia has a population of around 10.9 million, 98% of which are Muslims and the rest are Christians and followers of Judaism. Tunis is the capital and largest city. The president of the country is required to be a Muslim.

Site of ancient Carthage and a former Barbary state under the suzerainty of Turkey, Tunisia became a protectorate of France under a treaty signed May 12, 1881. The nation became independent on March 20, 1956, and the monarchy ended the following year. Tunisia has strong ties in terms of trade and bilateral relations with both the European Union and the Arab world. The country is also a member of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, the Arab League, the Africa Union, the World Trade Organization, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The economy of Tunisia is quite diverse. Important industries are petroleum products, tourism, agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Last November 23, 2014, the country held its first presidential elections since the 2011 Arab Spring.

We congratulate the people and government of Tunisia led by President Beji Caid Essebsi, and Prime Minister Habib Essid, on the occasion of its National Day.