Independence Day

Tunisia Independence Day commemorates March 20, 1956, when Tahar Ben Ammar and French foreign minister Christian Pineau signed the protocol by which France recognised Tunisian independence. The act abrogated the protectorate established by the 1881 Treaty of Bardo after a long nationalist struggle involving Destour, Neo-Destour, organised labour, armed resistance and competing strategies within the independence movement.

Independence did not immediately create the republic or remove every French military position. Tunisia remained a kingdom under Lamine Bey until July 25, 1957, and French forces retained the Bizerte base until 1963. Keeping those later anniversaries separate prevents March 20 from being presented as a single event that completed every aspect of decolonisation.

The decree assigns one day of public-sector leave every March 20. In 2026 it coincided with the confirmed first day of Eid al-Fitr; neither the decree nor the Eid notice grants an extra substitute day merely because two holidays share the date. Presidential Decree No. 2021-223 grants holiday leave to personnel of the State, local authorities and administrative public institutions; its wording is not a blanket rule for every private workplace. Labour Code articles 107-110 provide that paid non-working holidays in private employment are fixed by decree or collective agreements, protect covered pay and add an equal indemnity where an employee in a non-stoppable activity works the holiday. Employees must therefore check the rule or collective agreement governing their sector. Neither cited text creates a general next-working-day substitute when a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday.