Saida Sassi

Saïda Sassi (1921 – 25 July 2007) was a Tunisian politician. She was a key associate of her uncle President Habib Bourguiba during his tenure from 1957 to 1987.

Early life Saïda Sassi was born in 1921 in Monastir. She was orphaned at age six and raised by her uncle, Habib Bourguiba. Unable to invest in her studies, she obtained only a study certificate. She was responsible for maintaining her uncle's image by informing Tunisians that the president was more resistant than the media would admit.

Bourguiba devoted time to her and spent his days in her company, after meetings with political figures. After he was dismissed in 1987 for senility by Prime Minister Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Bourguiba left power and was transferred to the state residence of Mornag. Sassi remained loyal to him and continued to visit him until she moved to Paris.

Relationship with Wassila Bourguiba Sassi's relationship with the First Lady and second wife of the President, Wassila Bourguiba, was tense since Sassi had the right to sleep at her uncle's bedside and had a say in his affairs, while Wassila was sidelined. The rivalry ended in 1986 with the divorce of Habib and Wassila.

End of life A year after Bourguiba left power in 1987, Sassi settled in Paris. In 1995, she discovered that she had Alzheimer's disease. She then returned to her native country and ended her days there, dying on 25 July 2007. Her funeral at the Jellaz Cemetery was sparsely attended, mainly by relatives and friends.