Accusing her of financial crimes during her father's rule
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Figure timeline
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, commonly known as Ben Ali or Ezzine, was a Tunisian politician, military officer and dictator who served as the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. In that year, during the Tunisian revolution, he was overthrown and fled to Saudi Arabia.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011 · politician · diplomat · also Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Ben Ali, Ali
Born 3 September 1936 · Died 19 September 2019 · Q204487
34 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
14 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Award
- Award
2026· 1 entry
2019· 1 entry
Died 2019-09-19.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
2014· 1 entry
And pledged steps to improve the economy and loosen restrictions on the press
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 3 entries
The National Interest: Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali
- #news
- #headline
On 14 January 2011, Ben Ali, his wife and children fled to Saudi Arabia, and a caretaker ruling committee headed by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi was announced.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
On 20 January 2011, Tunisian television reported that 33 members of Ben Ali's family had been arrested in the past week, as they tried to flee the country.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #family
2010· 1 entry
In December 2010 and January 2011, riots over unemployment escalated into a widespread popular protest movement against Ben Ali's government.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
2009· 1 entry
On 25 October 2009, Ben Ali was re-elected for a fifth term with 89% of the vote.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
2008· 1 entry
In terms of freedom of the press, Tunisia was ranked 143 out of 173
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2006· 1 entry
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles presented by Albert II, Prince of Monaco (2006).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2005· 1 entry
Awarded National Maltese Order of Merit (2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2004· 2 entries
Again by an implausibly high margin—this time 94 percent of the vote
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
The latter measures were clearly aimed at keeping Ben Ali in office; he faced having to give up the presidency in 2004.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
2003· 2 entries
Awarded Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (2003).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
After being removed from power in 1979 at the end of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1999· 3 entries
Fulvio Martini, former head of Italian military secret service SISMI, declared to a parliamentary committee that "from 1985 to 1987, we organized a coup of sorts in Tunisia, putting President Ben Ali as head of state, re
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Ben Ali became the first Tunisian president to actually face an opponent after the 30-signature requirement was lifted a few months earlier
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
In 1999, Ben Ali became the first Tunisian president to actually face an opponent after the 30-signature requirement was lifted a few months earlier.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
1995· 2 entries
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (1995).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope presented by Nelson Mandela (1995).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1994· 1 entry
Career landmark: chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1994–1995).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1992· 2 entries
In 1992, the president's younger brother Habib Ben Ali was tried in absentia in France for laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking, in a case known as the "couscous connection".
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
The president's younger brother Habib Ben Ali was tried in absentia in France for laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking, in a case known as the "couscous connection"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1991· 1 entry
Awarded Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1991).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1989· 2 entries
Awarded Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria (1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1988· 1 entry
Changed the name of the ruling Destourian Socialist Party to the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), and pushed through constitutional amendments that limited the president to three five-year terms, with no more th
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1987· 2 entries
Career landmark: President of Tunisia (1987–2011).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Tunisia (1987–1987).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1986· 1 entry
Career landmark: Minister of Interior (1986–1987).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1974· 1 entry
The RCD swept every seat in the legislature, and Ben Ali appeared alone on the ballot in Tunisia's first presidential election since 1974.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
1964· 1 entry
Began his professional military career the same year as a Tunisian staff officer
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1936· 2 entries
Born 1936-09-03.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth
To moderate-income parents as the fourth of eleven children in the family
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event