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Executive
branch:
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%
Capital:
Tunis
Population:
10,074,951
(July 2005 est.)
Languages:
Arabic
(official and one of the languages of commerce), French
(commerce)
Location:
Northern
Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and
Libya
Climate:
temperate
in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert
in south
Land boundaries:
total:
1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Background:
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.
Administrative divisions:
24
governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus),
Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah),
Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili),
Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine
(Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis),
Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah),
Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
International
organization participation:
ABEDA,
ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOCI,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
GDP (purchasing power
parity):
$76.91
billion (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing
power parity - $7,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by
sector:
agriculture:
13.8%
industry: 30.7%
services: 55.6% (2005 est.)
Agriculture
- products:
olives,
olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef,
sugar beets, dates, almonds
Industries:
petroleum,
mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles,
footwear, agribusiness, beverages
By
the
Courtesy of World
Fact Book - Tunis and
Wikipedia
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