When Tunisians began protesting in late 2010, a key demand was reform of the notorious security sector. For more than two decades, former President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s security forces fostered a repressive atmosphere where public and even private dissent were punished and corruption was widespread. Despite democratic gains with free and fair elections in the past three years, the development of the most liberal constitution in the Arab world, and a successful national dialogue, Tunisians have yet to see substantial progress or reform of the security sector.

Please join us for a conversation with Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow and President of Tunisian Institutional Reform Bassem Bouguerra, who will discuss his upcoming Atlantic Council issue brief on the topic. Bouguerra will explain why progress on security sector reform has been lackluster and what the Tunisian government must do to implement such reforms. Dr. William Lawrence, visiting professor at George Washington University and nonresident fellow at the Project on Middle East Democracy, will discuss the regional aspects and international cooperation on security sector reform in Tunisia.