Middle East 531
claimed territory south of Garat El Hamel but held that delimitation of the border
needed to be decided with Algeria and Libya.
Tunisia’s claim included the oil field at Edjeleh. France appealed to the Security
Council, and its complaint was heard in the Security Council on June 2, 1958. How-
ever, de Gaulle took office on June 1 and took a different tack with Tunisia. On June
17, France (de Gaulle) exchanged letters with the Tunisians whereby France agreed to
evacuate its bases except Bizerte and to negotiate the future of the Bizerte base within
four months. The French abandoned its other bases, but the discussions on Bizerte
never took place. In addition, the agreement did not address sovereignty over territory
south of Garat El Hamel.
MID#1796
Dispute Number: 1796
Date(s): February 9, 1959 to August 15, 1959
Participants: 220 France/616 Tunisia
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: French troops in Algeria engaged in several shootings and incursions
along the border with Tunisia. Several Tunisian civilians were killed. French officials
denied charges of a French bombing of a Tunisian town.
MID#1711
Dispute Number: 1711
Date(s): February 17, 1960 to May 31, 1960
Participants: 220 France/616 Tunisia
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: This dispute describes a series of incidents by French forces fighting Alge-
rian rebels who would use the Tunisian border to their best advantage. The French
often chased in hot pursuit and bombed rebels after they crossed the border. Tunisia
protested. Tunisia also protested airspace violations and several non-hot pursuit
attacks. All of these incidents occur in the backdrop of continued negotiations of the
remaining French air base in Tunisia at Bizerte.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 1960. End Date changed from May
28, 1960. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
MID#28
Dispute Number: 28
Date(s): July 17, 1961 to September 29, 1961
Participants: 616 Tunisia/220 France
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 101–250 deaths