events-Africa

See also Internatiional Unions for pan-African organisations

26 June 2015, Islamist gunmen stormed a tourist beach at Sousse, Tunisia, shooting dead 38 holidaymakers. The Tunisian holiday industry subsequently collapsed. Simultaneous terrorist attacks took place in France and Kuwait.

14January 2011, In the turmoil of the Arab Spring, the Tunisian Government fell after a month of protests.

4January 2011, Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi died after setting fire to himself on 17 December 2010. This sparked anti-government protests in Tunisia and other Arab nations, which became known as the Arab Spring.

17 December 2010, The Arab Spring began when a Tunisian graduate set fire to himself in protest at police who stopped him trading without a permit, after he had failed to secure paid employment.

1987, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali (born 1936) ousted President Bourguiba of Tunisia and became President himself. Bourguiba went into retirement.

1974, Bourguiba was elected President for life by the� National Assembly.

1964, Collectivisation of agriculture was begun; however this policy was abandoned in 1969.

22 July 1961, The UN ordered a ceasefire in Tunisia, after clashes between Tunisians and French.

1 October 1958, Tunisia joined the Arab League.

17 June 1958, French troops withdrew from most of Tunisia.

17 February 1958, France and Tunisia agreed to mediation by the UK and USA.

11 February 1958, Tunisia banned French warships from using its port at Bizerta.

8 February 1958, France bombed the Tunisian town of Sakiet Sidi Youssef as a reprisal for alleged Tunisian involvement on a French patrol in Algeria near the Tunisian frontier on 11January 1958. Tunisia confined all French troops in the country to barracks.

18 November 1957, Following the promise of US aid (see 12 September 1957), Tunisia announced it had rejected Soviet offers of assistance.

12 September 1957, Tunisia asked for US military assistance, with was then promised by the USA on 14 September 1957. See 18 November 1957.

25 July 1957, Tunisia abolished the monarchy and became a republic.� Habib Bourguiba was elected as the first President.

French colonisation

20 March 1956. Tunisia became independent, having been a French Protectorate since 1881. Bourguiba was elected Prime Minister.

25 March 1952, Widespread anti-French rioting across Tunisia.

20 February 1952. NATO agreed to recruit Tunisia.

9 February 1912, An 8-year old Tunisian Arab child was killed by a tram operated by an Italian in Tunis. Witnesses to the accident reported the driver being drunk while operating the vehicle. A boycott was called on all Italian-owned trams in Tunis until reparations were paid to the family of the deceased child. The boycott lasted nearly two months with none of the protestors' demands met, but it did lay the groundwork for the Tunisian National movement.

8 June 1883, French control of Tunisia was confirmed by the Convention of Marsa.

12 May 1881, Tunisia became a French Protectorate. The French invaded in April 1881 when the Tunisian first minister made various reforms taking away French economic privileges. This French move was disturbing to Italy, who had believed that Britain would never permit an extension of French power in North Africa. See also Islam.

1574, Tunisia became a province of the Ottoman Empire.

1 June 1535, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, captured Tunis.

1230, Foundation of the Nafsid Dynasty. Tunis became the capital.

7 December 909, Sa�id Ibn Hussein was proclaimed Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi (�the divinely guided one�) in Tunis. He established an Isma�ili Shiite caliphate in opposition to the caliphate of Baghdad, and founded the Fatimid Dynasty.

For foundation of Ismailite Shiite Islam and Fatimid Dynasty in Tunis, 908-09, see also Islam

698, Arab invaders seized Carthage, and founded a new city called Tunis.

534, Byzantine rule re-established in North Africa.

439, The Vandals seized Carthage, ending Roman rule there.

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