Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to execute Islamic fundamentalists. SISMI's action did not have the consent of René Imbot, head of the French secret service, and the USA allegedly was not informed. According to Martini, the SISMI did not have an operational role in Ben Ali's rise to power, but organised a move to support his new government politically and economically, preventing Tunisia from falling into an open confrontation with fundamentalists, as happened in Algeria in the following years. Ben Ali initially promised a more democratic way of ruling the country than had prevailed under Bourguiba. One of his first acts upon taking office was
Slim Chiboub Slim Chiboub Slim Chiboub is a Tunisian businessman. He is married to Dorsaf Ben Ali, the oldest daughter of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his first wife, Naïma Kefi. He claims he has not seen Ben Ali since the latter married Leïla Ben Ali. He was club president Espérance Sportive de Tunis for nineteen years. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of FIFA. He used to chair the Tunisian Olympic Committee until he has been fallen, after the 2011 revolution. He also owns race horses. Following the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests, he is in