Tunisia

The smallest of the North African Maghreb countries, Tunisia possesses an overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim population, which coexists with salient religious minorities and a tradition of largely secular government. French control of Tunisia in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in a significant Roman Catholic presence in the country, especially in the capital, and several Roman Catholic schools, clinics, and churches operate freely within the country. Most of Tunisia’s indigenous Jewish minority left the country in the 1960's for France or Israel, but the remaining community enjoys government support and operates largely free from discrimination. From independence in 1956 until January 2011, Tunisia witnessed only two presidents—both secularists who imposed stringent limits on democracy and suppressed Islamist activists. In January 2011, popular protests beginning in Tunisia rocked both the country and the entire Arab region, resulting in the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (1987-2011). Tunisia now faces the challenge of constructing a post-revolution government to satisfy both its Islamist and secular political factions. The country’s first free elections in October 2011 showed strong support for moderate Islamists.