Rachid Ammar

Rachid Ammar, or Rchid Ammar (born 1947 or 1948) was the chief of staff of the Tunisian Armed Forces.

He is perhaps best known for his refusal to fire on protestors during the 2011 Tunisian Revolution. He has been described as "the first post-2011 icon in Tunisia."

Ammar was promoted to chief of staff from the rank of colonel when the previous chief of staff, Abdelaziz Skik, was killed in a 2002 helicopter crash, considered mysterious by several soldiers and journalists who have also held Ben Ali's government responsible. The same helicopter crash also killed five colonels, four majors, and two lieutenants, and one casualty was the Military Security Service leader colonel El Arbi Ghazali.

Ammar was a member of the joint chiefs of staff and was received along with other members of the council by Ali at a ceremony during the summer of 2010. There, Ammar was promoted by Ben Ali from the rank of divisional general to that of corps general.

On 25 June 2013, Ammar announced his retirement due to harsh criticisms.

Tunisian revolution On 13 January 2011, Ammar refused to follow the orders of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, then president of Tunisia, to shoot protesters participating in the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests . On 14 January, Ben Ali fled Tunisia and Ammar was reinstated by Mohamed Ghannouchi. The New York Times reported there was speculation that Ammar would take over the country and become president. The Egyptian newspaper Almasry Alyoum reported that the embassy of the United States had told Ammar to take control of Tunisia if the country became politically unstable.