Muhammad VII al-Munsif

Who was Muhammad VII al-Munsif?

Muhammad VII al-Munsif was the ruler of Tunisia between 19 June 1942 and 14 May 1943.

He was born in La Manouba the son of Muhammad V an-Nasir Pasha. He was appointed heir apparent to the Beylik of Tunis with the title of Bey al-Mahalla on April 30, 1942.

Muhammad became bey of Tunis on the death of his cousin Ahmad II ibn Ali. In 1942 he attempted to free Tunis from French control and establish an independent government. The Free French Forces deposed Muhammad on May 14, 1943, on the accusation that he was a Vichy collaborator and he was succeeded by his cousin Muhammad VIII al-Amin. He formally abdicated on July 6, 1943.

After his deposition, Muhammad was exiled firstly to Laghouat in southern Algeria, then to Ténès, before finally moving in 1945 to Pau in France, where he died in 1948.