To mark the 70th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence, we invite you to a discussion forum to explore the significance of this date today.March 20, 1956 marked the end of the protectorate and Tunisia’s attainment of national sovereignty. This independence ushered in a new era: the building of the state, the affirmation of citizenship, and hopes for a free and democratic political life.

But seventy years later, what remains of those promises? The national narrative has been simplified, and at times exploited; political life is in the midst of a deep crisis; and the bond between the state and its citizens has grown fragile.

"Is March 20 still a significant date?"

This first meeting will provide an opportunity to revisit the significance of March 20 in the national narrative, to examine the continuities and ruptures that have shaped Tunisia’s political history since 1956, and to reflect on contemporary forms of sovereignty and the role of citizens.

Date: March 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: 1 Rue Mounet Sully, 75020 Paris
Free admission – open to everyone

More events will follow:

• March 28 at 2:30 p.m.: Roundtable discussion at the Anti-Colonial and Anti-Racist Fair at the AERI in Montreuil. To contextualize the Tunisian experience within the struggles against colonialism, racism, and contemporary forms of dependency.
• April 9 at 7 p.m.: Panel discussion titled “The Tunisian Relationship with Politics,” exploring forms of engagement, disillusionment, and disengagement since independence. At the CICP, 21 ter rue Voltaire, 75011 Paris.