Tunisia
Tunisia, the smallest country in North Africa, lies at the northernmost bulge of the continent and shares borders with Libya to the South East and Algeria to the West. The remaining border runs along 713 miles of Mediterranean coastline. Originally settled by Phoenicians in the 12th century BC, it was later home to the ancient and powerful city-state of Carthage. The city became a chief centre for Christian learning in the 4th century, and St. Augustine received his education and taught there. Destroyed by the Romans, then successively overrun by Vandals, Byzantines, and Ottoman Turks, it was also a notorious stronghold for Barbary pirates in the 16th century. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881 and finally gained independence in 1956.
Tunisia is one of the more moderate societies in the Arab world. It has an estimated population of 10.4 million people, 98% of whom are indigenous Arabs and Berbers. Europeans make up one per cent of the population.
Climate:
Tunisia enjoys a warm climate year around. Northern parts of the country experience rainy winters and hot, dry summers, while temperatures in the south, in the Sahara desert, can be extremely high.
Language:
Arabic is the official language, of which people speak a unique Tunisian Arabic. The two other spoken languages are: Jerbi, a Berber language, with about 20,000 speakers from smaller villages in the south; and French, with about 10,000 speakers mainly in urban areas.
Government:
Tunisia became a Republic in 1957. Habib Bourguiba led the country for three decades, having been voted President for life in the 1970’s. Bourguiba established a one-party state, insisted on emancipation for women, abolished polygamy and introduced compulsory free education. Forced to retire in 1987 due to senility, he was replaced by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has held the office ever since. While the political system now includes multi-party elections, the Government does not tolerate dissent and critics are often harassed and imprisoned. According to Human rights organizations, political prisoners face ill-treatment and torture.
Economy:
Rare among Arab countries, Tunisia has a large middle class which includes nearly 80% of the population. Sound development policies coupled with measures to promote business initiatives have led to increasing standards of living. The economy, once dependent on agriculture, now includes important mining, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. Tunisia is the fifth largest producer of phosphates in the world, and has industry in oil, iron ore, zinc, lead, gold, barite, and fluorspar. The country manufactures textiles, carpets, tires, and cement; and the agricultural sector produces dates, grapes, vegetables, olive oil, barley, wheat, henna, almonds, citrus fruit and cork.
Religion:
Islam is the State religion and 98% of Tunisians are Muslim, at least nominally. Most of these adhere to the Sunni sect, although a small indigenous Sufi community also exists. Followers of Christianity and Judaism each make up one percent of the population. Additionally, Tunisia has the largest number of atheists in all of North Africa.
The National Charter guarantees freedom of religion, and the government permits churches to operate freely. It is illegal, however, to convert someone from Islam. The Government has reportedly punished individuals who converted from Islam by denying them passports and the right to vote. Those caught proselytizing are deported and not permitted to return.
The study of Islam is mandatory in public schools, but secondary school pupils also study the history of Judaism and Christianity.
There are approximately 20,000 Christians in Tunisia, including Catholics, Anglicans, Russian and Greek Orthodox, and French Reformed. Among this number, it is estimated that there are between 400 and 500 Muslim background believers.
Pray:
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen existing churches and give them opportunities to share the gospel with their Arab neighbours.
- Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to Tunisian Muslims through dreams and visions.
- Ask the Lord to raise up intercessors to pray for the people and government of Tunisia.
- Pray that God will call people to go and share Christ with the Tunisians.
- Tunisian believers are asking for more workers, training and resources for the small but growing church.