Wars
and Conflicts of Tunisia
Tunisia is a North African nation whose
Arabic-speaking people are largely Muslim. As such, it is
considered a part of the Muslim and Arab world. Tunisia
came under French rule in the 1880s, and gained
independence in 1956.
Tunisia today is a nation struggling with poltical
changes, with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, leaving
office amid massive protests over his rule. Ben Ali was
only the second President of Tunisia. He was succeeded by
Fouad Mebazaa.
Wars and Conflicts
of Tunisia from the French Conquest to
Today:
French occupation
(1881)
Tunis Riots
(1938)--At least 118 dead in riots following the arrest
of an opposition leader.
World War II in North
Africa (1942-1943)--Tunisia, as a French
colony, had no say in whether to participate in World War
Two or not participate. Tunisia was used as a battlefield
as Axis forces retreated from Algeria and Libya as the
Allies drove them out of those areas. British forces
advanced against German and Italian forces from the
south, while American troops entered Axis-Occupied
Tunisia from the west.
Tunisian
War of Independence (1952-1955)
France
Tunisia Independence War 1952-1954
--Guerrilla
war of independence against the French began in
Tunisia, led by Habib Bourguiba.
Habib
Bourguiba, Led Tunisia to Independence From
France--Obitiuary
for Habib Bourguiba, Tunisian revolutionary
leader
Franco-Tunisian
Border Conflict (1957)
Second
Franco-Tunisian War [The Bizerte Incident]
(1961)
Bread Riots
(1983-1984)--Protests against the government
after the price of bread was increased over 100%. The
riots and the response from the authorities killed at
least 50 demonstrators and bystanders. See also Tunisia:
Bourguiba Lets Them Eat Bread--Time Magazine, Jan.
16, 1984)
Israeli air raid against PLO
headquarters in Tunis (Oct. 1,1985)-After the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fled its old
headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon due to the Israeli
Invasion of Lebanon, the PLO used Tunis as its
headquarters. Israel's "Operation Wooden Leg," attempted
to kill PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat with an air raid on
his headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia. Arafat survived,
though at least 60 members of the PLO died. Israel said
this attack was in response to the PLO yacht attack off
Larnaca, Cyprus. (See also Israeli-Palestinian
Battles)
Anti-Government Riots
(January 2011)--Protests against the
governement of President Ben Ali led to the President
leaving power and fleeing Tunisia. At least 78 deaths
were reported in the riots.
Media Links on 2011
Tunisia Revolt:
Tunisia’s
Revolt Could Set the Region on Fire--The
Trumpet.com
