Tunisia: Understanding Conflict 2012 - Johns Hopkins School of ...

country to expand its agricultural production and begin to export goods to its struggling
neighbor, Libya, to help with another democratic transition.
Mohamed Salah Hedri, a retired colonel in the Tunisia Army, stated that due to
the U.S. strong interest in building alliances in the Middle East region, the Tunisian
government has sought to exchange cooperation on strategic defense issues for assistance
in training its military. For decades, the U.S. and Tunisian military have conducted
training exchange programs. Mr. Hedri, who had previously participated in some of these
programs, commented that since the revolution both countries have agreed to continue
military training exchanges. This agreement by Tunisia has ensured that its military cadre
will continue to receive advanced training from the U.S. in order to be prepared for the
defense of its borders against instability in the region (SAIS Group Meeting, 24 January
2012).
Tunisia’s Request for U.S. Assistance
After receiving the plurality of votes in the 23 October 2011 election, the Ennahdha Party
and its leader Rachid Ghannouchi traveled to the U.S. to solicit assistance for the new
government. In his visit to the State Department, Ghannouchi asked for assistance in
strengthening Tunisia’s tourism. He requested the creation of a Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) between the U.S. and Tunisia and an Open Skies Agreement to have direct flights
between the two countries as a way to economic recovery. Tunisia’s economy is greatly
supported by the tourism industry, and reductions in tourism since the revolution have
resulted in a major loss in government revenue.
Democratic institutions are highly regarded in Tunisia, and from the beginning of
its revolution its leaders have requested assistance from the U.S. to help with its
democratic transition. The people in Tunisia who had taken action to create democratic
institutions in the country prior to the revolution were often jailed. The fall of the Ben Ali
government was unexpected, and policymakers found themselves unprepared to establish
a democratic government in the face of significant social and economic problems. The
Tunisian government submitted requests to the U.S. to provide support in the form of
election observers in the 2011 election of the Constituent Assembly. Minister Kilani of
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