Tunisian National Guard

During French protectorate of Tunisia, the French national gendarmerie is tasked to maintain law and order in Tunisia.[2] Shortly after Tunisia's independence, the Tunisian National Guard was created in 1956 by Beylical Decree of 6 September 1956 to replaces the French national gendarmerie who returns to France.[1][3] Originally dependent on the ministry of Defence, the force was transferred to the Ministry of the Interior, due to Habib Bourguiba's mistrust of the military.[4]

Tunisian National Guard, along with Tunisian National Police, is the first line of defense against internal security threat.[5] Tunisian National Guard role as stipulated in article 2 of Decree No. 2006-1162 on the special status of agents of the National Guard, are as follows:[6]

• for maintaining public order,
• preserving the security,
• land and sea borders guards,
• road/highway traffic and safety, public safety,
• search for criminals and,
• judicial investigations.

The Tunisian National Guard is led by a Director General, and consist of an inspectorate general and five directorate general, which are:[3][7]

• Inspectorate General.
• Directorate General of Public Security.
• Directorate General of Intervention Units.
• Directorate General of Border Guards.
• Directorate General of Common Services.
• Directorate General of the Mutual of Civil Protection National Guard officials.

Aside of five directorate general, It also have Directorate which works directly under Director General of the National Guard:[3]

• Directorate of Research and Investigation.
• Directorate of Anti-Terrorism.
• Directorate of Studies, Strategic plan and International Cooperation.
• The Special Unit.
• The Central Secretariat.
• The Central Operations Room

27 Naval Vessels

• 6 patrol boats P350TN (140 t, 35 m), donated by Italy (2 delivered 12.2012; 3 delivered between 2013/2014; 1 will be delivery within 2.2015)
• 7 patrol boats Classe 800/P58 (30 t, 17 m), donated by Italy middle years '00
• 4 patrol boats Classe 700 (18 t, 15 m), donated by Italy in May 2011
• 8 patrol boats Classe Squalo (13 t, 13,5 m), donated by Italy middle years '00
• 2 motorboats Classe 500 (8,5 t, 11 m), donated by Italy in 2009/2011

3 Aircraft

• 3 Bell 429 helicopters[8]

Officer ranks

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Tunisian National Guard[6]
									أمير لواء 'amir liwa'		عميد Amid	عقيد Aqid	مقدم Muqaddam		رائد Ra'id		نقيب Naqib		ملازم أول Mulazim awwal			ملازم Mulazim
									Général de brigade		Colonel-major	Colonel	Lieutenant-colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Tunisian National Guard[6]
	وكيل أول Wakil 'awal						وكيل Wakil				عريف أول Earif 'awal						عريف Earif						رقيب أول Raqib 'awal				رقيب Raqib								جندي متطوع Jundiun
	Adjudant-chef						Adjudant				Sergent-chef						Sergent						Caporal-chef				Caporal								Soldat