Amamou, Slim: One of Tunisia's most famous Twitterers in the Ben Ali years as @Slim404. Appointed minister of youth affairs and sports within 48 hours of his release as a political prisoner.
Ammar, Gen. Rachid: Chief of Staff of Tunisian military. Refused Ben Ali's orders to fire on protestors, and was sacked for a day. Reinstated after Ben Ali's flight.
Ben Ali, Leila (nee Trabelsi): Second wife of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali; first lady of Tunisia, 1992-2011. Generally seen as the 'Lady MacBeth' to Ben Ali. Her family, from greater Tunis, seen as the country's mafia. Ten siblings, and their children, intermarried with the nation's richest families and cornered most important contracts. AKA: The Hairdresser.
Ben Ali, Zine el-Abidine: Former general, then dictator from Nov. 7, 1987 - Jan. 14, 2011. Modernized sectors of Tunisia's economy; created safety and stability in face of Islamist extremists; with family, stole something on the order of $20B over 23 years in power. Now exiled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ben Amor, Hamada: Rapper known as "The General," who rapped about Tunisia's problems and was imprisoned by Ben Ali.
Bouazizi, Mohamed: 26-year-old university graduate who set himself afire in Sidi Bou Zid on Dec. 17, 2010. Police overreaction to protests in support of Bouazizi sparked the protest movement that culminated in Ben Ali's resignation.
Chiboub, Slim: Husband of Ben Ali's daughter, Dorsaf. Ran a number of businesses; most prominent for his presidency of Esperance Sportive de Tunis (EST), one of the nation's two most prominent soccer teams. After leaving EST, Chiboub was the president of the Tunisian Olympic Organizing Committee.
Ghannouchi, Mohamed: Prime Minister under Ben Ali from 1999-2011. Served one day as interim president after Ben Ali's flight. Now serving again as PM and head of government until new elections are held in Spring 2011. Resigned as RCD member on Jan. 18. 2011.
Ghannouchi, Rached: Leader of the el-Nadha party, a so-called moderate Islamist party. Has been in exile in London since 1990. Looking to return to Tunisia. No relation to Mohamed Ghannouchi.
Marzouki, Moncef: Leader of the 'Congress for the Republic Party,' or CPR. Exiled to France in 2002 after CPR was outlawed by Ben Ali. CPR is widely considered the most economically and socially liberal of the opposition parties.
Mebazaa, Fouad: Current acting president of Tunisia. Age 77, has been involved in politics since before independence. Former leader of the Chamber of Deputies, ascended under Article 57 of Tunisian Constitution. Resigned as RCD member on Jan. 18. 2011.
Sakhr el-Matri, Mohamed: 31-year old husband of Ben Ali's daughter, Nesrine (19). Ran businesses throughout the country, including a loyalist newspaper, the country's largest bank, and a number of automobile dealerships and shipping holdings. Fled to Canada days before Ben Ali's toppling. Mentioned prominently in 'Wikileaks' releases about his extravagant lifestyle, which included a pet tiger.
Trabelsi, Imed: The Hairdresser's favorite nephew. Served as mayor of upscale La Goulette suburb. Implicated in theft of a French yacht in 2005. Stabbed to death while trying to flee the country on Jan. 14, 2011.
