Ben Ali

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was a Tunisian politician who served as the President of Tunisia from 1987 until his ousting in 2011. He came to power after a bloodless coup that removed longtime dictator Habib Bourguiba. Ben Ali's rule was marked by a mix of economic growth and political repression, with a focus on maintaining stability and security. His government faced criticism for human rights abuses and corruption. In late 2010, public protests demanding political reform erupted, leading to his flight to exile in Saudi Arabia in January 2011, signaling the start of the Arab Spring movement across the region.