Tunisia Flag

Date: 20 March, 1956

On 20 March 1956, Tunisia gained its independence from France after two years of negotiations between the French and the Neo-Destour (“New Constitution”) party, which was backed by the trade unions. Tunisia, located below the Mediterranean ocean became a constitutional monarchy with the Bey of Tunis, Muhammad VIII al-Amin Bey, as king.

In 1957, Habib Bourguiba the country’s Prime Minister, abolished the monarchy and declared the Republic of Tunisia. 

In 1861, Tunisia became the first country in the Arab world to adopt a constitution. However, less than 10 years later political instability in the country forced Tunisia to declare itself bankrupt. Subsequently, Tunisia’s economy became the liability of a group of British, French and Italian financial commissioners.

References

• Boddy-Evans A. ‘This Day in African History: 20 March’, from African History, [online], Available at www.africanhistory.about.com [Accessed: 21 February 2012]
• Acrli, ‘Tunisia’, [online], Available at www.acrli.org [Accessed: 21 February 2012]
• The Morden Historian, (2011), ‘On this day in history: Tunisia independence, 1956’, 20 March, [online], Available at modernhistorian.blogspot.com [Accessed: 21 February 2012]