Tunisia’s military, marginalized under Presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and popularized as a “guarantor of democracy” during the 2011 revolution, has been under power since President Kais Saied took office. Political power increased significantly.
After being elected in 2019, the president sought to gain support from the military. Without it, he would not have been able to carry out his power grab in July 2021.
Since then, he has increased the military’s influence in the country’s political life, going so far as to award a ministerial post to a high-ranking officer for the first time in the country’s history.
On the eve of a presidential election that is largely said to be unfair, the development has worried many observers who question the role the military can play in the short term.
Unlike other countries in the region such as Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Syria, the Tunisian military is not a political and economic actor.
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Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, Bourguiba insisted on confining his soldiers to barracks.
Although a lawyer and not a military man by trade, unlike most Arab leaders, Tunisia’s first president was more influenced by the French political model than by the system that emerged from military rebellion.
This belief was further strengthened in 1962 when Bourguiba fled a coup attempt involving senior officials.
He was finally dismissed in 1987 by Prime Minister Ben Ali, a former military man.
Under the latter’s rule, the military remained essentially marginalized and perceived as a threat, as illustrated by the so-called Baraket Essahel incident of 1991, in which the president accused 244 military personnel of “conspiracy against national security.” It had been.
The situation changed after the revolution that led to the ouster of Ben Ali.
Among founding myths, the story of “The Man Who Said No” helped popularize the military.
“More than just a logistical role, the military was seen as a guardian of democracy.”
– Kamel Jendoubi, former Minister of Human Rights
Yassin Ayari, the son of a high-ranking military officer, blogger and future parliamentarian, says that at the height of the revolutionary movement in January 2011, the army chief of staff, General Rashid Ammar, refused to fire on demonstrators and Ben Ben He announced that he had disobeyed Ali’s orders.
Months later, Mr. Ayali admitted that he had lied about Mr. Ammar, who never actually complied, but the military remained popular in Tunisia.
For this reason, the deployment of soldiers in large cities was generally well received by Tunisians, who associated the stricter regime under Ben Ali with the police force.
The role of the military was strengthened in the decade following the revolution.
In addition to its involvement in maintaining order, this military institution, which was unanimously praised by the ruling class, was also involved in organizing elections.
Kamel Jendoubi, who served as human rights minister from 2015 to 2016, told MEE that “more than just a logistical role, the military was seen as a guardian of democracy.”
“By placing soldiers in front of polling places and securing the transportation of ballot boxes, we sent a message to voters that the military is the guarantor of the electoral process and the will of the people,” said the first election administrator in both Japan and the United States. said Jendubi, who headed the bureau. Added 2011 and 2012.
increasing military power
However, the military’s role in fighting the series of attacks that hit Tunisia between 2011 and 2016 ensured that the military played a central role in national life.
Two attacks on soldiers on Mount Charbi in 2013 and 2014 influenced public opinion.
Subsequently, successive governments and presidents have significantly increased military budgets with the help of Western countries, primarily the United States, which see Tunisia’s military as the best interlocutor.
The weapons used by the military are primarily American-made, and Washington provides Tunisia with significant military aid. The latest example is the delivery of two Textron C-208EX reconnaissance aircraft in early September.
How will Tunisia’s defense relationship with the US be maintained despite aid cuts?
read more ”
Moreover, Tunisia has been a major non-NATO ally since 2015, and since the Bourguiba regime its military officials have been trained in France and the United States, especially within the framework of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM).
“The increase in military resources has made it possible to upgrade the entire military establishment,” journalist Ahmed Nadif told MEE.
“The military has fundamentally improved its financial position. This has allowed more affluent groups to join the military.”
Nadif explained that in order to effectively counter the threat of attacks, the entire region is currently under military control, including areas inhabited by civilians, such as Kathleen Governorate, the area around Mount Chabi, and the southeastern region close to the Libyan border. .
According to the same journalist, “from 2011 to 2021, the government coalition underestimated the military’s weight, mainly in an attempt to control the Ministry of Interior.”
This may be due to the fact that the anarchic conditions accompanying the revolution led to a kind of militarization of the mind, and in particular, politicians from both the majority and opposition parties called for military intervention in civilian life.
For example, in 2015, under President Beji Caid Essebsi, a military officer was appointed to head a Sfax hospital to end a long-running social movement.
Furthermore, over the past decade, few political actors have condemned the Ministry of Defense’s prosecution of civilians in military courts for opinion after accusing them of “undermining the morale of the military.”
“Republican Discipline”
Said, who was elected in 2019, has sought to curry favor with the military, including increasing presidential visits to military barracks.
He also began using the military to suppress opposition, dragging some of his critics to military tribunals, even though they themselves were civilians.
“The increase in military resources has led to the entire military institution being upgraded.”
– Ahmed Nadif, journalist
Three months before taking power in 2021, Said declared himself head of all civilian forces. Under the 2014 constitution, the police belong to the head of government, but Mr. Said took advantage of the absence of the Constitutional Council to crush all security forces in the country.
It was with this newly gained advantage that Said carried out what he called a “constitutional coup” on July 25, 2021, which could not have been achieved without the help of the military.
When Mr Said announced “exceptional measures” such as freezing parliament, lifting immunity for parliamentarians and dismissing government leaders, he was surrounded by senior officials from the interior and defense ministries.
Military tanks were also deployed to prevent access to the Capitol.
Said then sought to weaken opposition forces, including the press, NGOs, and the judicial system, while increasing the budget and further strengthening the military.
According to many observers, his power today is essentially due to military support, and his popularity is called into question by low turnout in the various elections he has called.
As a result, several factors suggest that the military’s political importance actually increased under Said.
The clearest example of this is the appointment, for the first time in Tunisian history, of two military personnel to the cabinet positions of public health in October 2021 and agriculture in January 2023.
The current system of governance is particularly arcane, so it is difficult to explain the balance of power within it and know whether Said or the military has the upper hand.
Colin Powers, a senior fellow and editor-in-chief at Paris-based think tank Noria Research, said: “Said is trying to give the military more autonomy. “This could threaten his own power.” he told MEE.
But significant friction has emerged in recent months.
According to the specialized website Africa Intelligence, military intelligence carried out an investigation that led to the arrests of people close to the all-powerful Justice Minister Leila Jaffer Said’s disciples.
“Mr. Said is trying to give the military more autonomy. He is aware of the limits that he cannot cross with the military, which could threaten his power.”
– Colin Powers, Noria Research
Confusion also arose between Said and the Minister of War. African intelligence agencies report disagreements over strategic issues such as medicine shortages, which the president describes as a “conspiracy.”
The most prominent conflict was over the issue of water scarcity. The agriculture minister justified the summer water cuts with rational explanations such as years of drought and the condition of the pipes, but Said, as usual, hinted at a conspiracy against Tunisians and disowned the military.
This disagreement likely explains the large-scale cabinet reshuffle carried out by Mr Said at the end of August, in which two military ministers were replaced.
However, another senior army official, General Mustafa Ferjani, was appointed health minister “as compensation” for these dismissals, according to multiple media outlets.
The latest tensions have been caused by the presidential election scheduled for October 6th. Said is accused of preventing other candidates from running, but some military officials say they are reluctant to arrest some “republican” politicians who do not pose a threat to security. It has been reported.
Gendubi explained that military legislation requires protecting the republican form of state.
“Until now, by following Mr Said’s coup, the military could say it was doing its job. In fact, the president is the head of the military and was democratically elected in 2019,” the former minister told MEE. spoke.
In an editorial for Le Monde on the military’s role in the upcoming elections, Gendoubi emphasized the military’s role as a guardian of democracy, saying the military must decide whether to support pluralism or choose authoritarianism. I wrote that there is.
“In 2024, the situation will be fundamentally different. Will the Republican discipline of respecting the people’s choice mean anything if the October 6 election turns into a negation of democracy?” he asked MEE said.
