Slim Riahi

Who is Slim Riahi?

Slim Riahi is a Tunisian businessman and politician. He is the founder and leader of the Free Patriotic Union.

His family lives in London.

Slim Riahi was born in Enfidha, Tunisia. In 1980, his family went into exile in Libya, as his father was an Arab nationalist opposed to President Habib Bourguiba, as well as to his successor Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Slim Riahi grew up in Libya. He studied management at the Al Fateh University in Tripoli. Then, he engaged in the oil production, energy, aviation and property development industries, which acquired him great wealth, worth billions. Later, he moved to London, and now holds dual British and Tunisian citizenship.

Returning to Tunisia after the Tunisian revolution in January 2011, he founded a political party, the Free Patriotic Union, which promotes an economically liberal and modernist program and positions itself at the centre of the political spectrum. The party has run into controversy for mingling political and business interests, extensive campaigning and unclear financial resources. In August 2011, Riahi announced that he was planning to enter into Tunisia's media business with acquiring a 20-percent stake of the newspaper publisher Dar Assabah. He advertised to become the president of Club Africain on 6 June 2012,he is a fan of this team since his childhood. He was officially confirmed as the new president of Club Africain on 16 June 2012.