The Prospects for Security Sector Reform in Tunisia: A Year After the Revolution

Authored by Dr. Querine Hanlon.

September 2012

65 Pages

Summary

In the year since the revolution, Tunisia has achieved what no other Arab Spring country has managed: peaceful transition to democratic rule through national elections widely viewed to be free and fair. The legacy of the previous regime, however, remains: a complete lack of transparency, no real parliamentary or government oversight, and largely unchanged rules of engagement and training. Tunisia’s internal security services are feared by the population and are themselves fearful of fulfilling their basic policing tasks. The Tunisian Armed Forces clearly ascribe to the concept of civilian oversight of the military. Although they are currently fulfilling a number of internal security tasks, they have publicly stated their intention to return to the barracks when the police can resume responsibility for internal security. Security sector reform (SSR) will be critical for building trust in the new government and its security institutions. The raison d’être of Ben Ali’s security institutions was to protect the regime, not the population. SSR is essential for reorienting the mandate and institutional culture of Tunisia’s labyrinth of security institutions. Serious reform of the security sector is essential if Tunisia’s transition to democratic rule is to succeed in the long term.

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