Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was a Tunisian politician who served as the President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Born on September 3, 1936, in Hammam Sousse, Tunisia, Ben Ali graduated from the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in France and later earned a master's degree in law from the University of Paris. He began his military career in the Tunisian Army, rising through the ranks to become a brigadier general. In 1987, he seized power in a bloodless coup, ousting President Habib Bourguiba, who had been in office since Tunisia's independence in 1956. During his 23-year rule, Ben Ali implemented economic reforms, privatized state-owned enterprises, and encouraged foreign investment. He also promoted human rights and women's rights, and Tunisia became a hub for democracy and modernization in the Arab world. However, his regime was also criticized for its authoritarian nature, corruption, and human rights abuses. In 2010-2011, widespread protests and unrest led to his eventual ousting on January 14, 2011, marking the end of his 23-year rule.