Tunisia

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Industrial production accounts for 22% of the GDP and agriculture for 16%. The average GDP growth is at 2.9 %; unemployment at 16% (1994 data). Tunisia ranks in the middle of the scale of the UNDP Human Development Index (rank 81).

Past cumbersome governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure. Further privatization and improvement in Government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future. Tunisia's inflation has remained moderate and it has pursued a cautious approach to foreign debt. President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI has been the Tunisian chief of state since 1987.

Overview of Drug Control Situation

Tunisia is party to all international drug control conventions. There are no reports of significant production in Tunisia. However, psychotropic substances are reported to becoming increasingly available throughout North Africa. Due to its geographical location, Tunisia has potential for transit trafficking, particularly for cannabis destined for Europe from the production areas in Morocco. There are also reports that trafficking of heroin from Libya into the country is increasing. These assessments, however, could not be substantiated by reported data available to UNDCP. In general, reporting of Tunisia under the ARQ process could be improved.

Tunisia has no national survey data on dug abuse. At the UNDCP Demand Reduction Forum, held in 1996 in Tunisia, the country reported a general rising trend of abuse of illicit drugs, with substances including: cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and volatile substances. The main drug of abuse was reported to be cannabis. Tunisia has no established rehabilitation policy and no specialized treatment centres. Some prevention campaigns are undertaken in schools.

The agency responsible for drug control is the "Surete Nationale". Tunisia is a member of the Arab Office for Narcotic Affairs in Amman, which is part of the Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC). It is worth noting that AIMC, which belongs to the League of Arab States, has its headquarters in Tunis. AIMC covers a wide range of activities including drug control.

Tunisia has some form of inter ministerial committees to oversee drug control matters in the country. However, it lacks the ability to ensure effective implementation of the countries' decisions, and to provide effective co-ordination among the various government agencies involved in drug control matters.

Since 1991 Tunisia has provided a minor voluntary contribution to UNDCP. Tunisia also hosted the UNDCP Demand Reduction Forum for North Africa, held in Hammamet in July 1996.

Currently, UNDCP has one operation in Tunisia: Assistance in Control of Drug Traffic, (US$ 276,000). The last activity before completion of the project this year was the upgrading of interdiction capacities in Tunisia by providing drug scenting dogs and training to the dog handlers in co-operation with the French government.

Tunisia was one of the first countries to welcome the establishment of the UNDCP Cairo Regional Office and since then it has been co-operating with it closely and providing it with statistical reports.