Abdallah Kallel

Abdallah Kallel, born on 7 December 1943 in Sfax, Tunisia, is a politician who served as President of the Chamber of Advisors from August 2005 until January 2011. He came from a modest background, with his father working as a farmer and his mother as a homemaker. After earning a master's degree in economics, he joined the National School of Administration (ENAM). During Habib Bourguiba's presidency, he held various roles, including attachments to the Ministry of Interior and stints as chief of staff for Defense Ministers Abdallah Farhat and Rachid Sfar. Kallel later taught at ENAM before working in the private sector. He became Minister of Defense in 1988 and served as Minister of Interior from 1991 to 1995, during a period of counter-Islamist policies. He advised President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and held several ministerial roles, including Justice and Interior, until his political suspension in 2001 due to a torture complaint filed in Switzerland. The case was dismissed but highlighted allegations of human rights abuses. In 2004, Kallel became President of the Economic and Social Council and later President of the Chamber of Advisors after its creation. He remained Treasurer of the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) until his removal in 2011 following Tunisia's revolution. After the revolution, Kallel faced legal issues, including embezzlement charges and asset seizure. He was hospitalized multiple times for health problems, including heart conditions, during detention. In November 2013, he was sentenced to four years in prison but released after serving two years on appeal ...