11 Facts About Mongi Slim

Mongi Slim was a Tunisian diplomat who became the first African to become the President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1961.

Mongi Slim received a degree from the faculty of law of the University of Paris.

Mongi Slim was twice imprisoned by the French during the Tunisian struggle for independence.

Mongi Slim's mother was a member of the Beyrum family, a noble Turkish family which had risen to prominence in Tunis, and was famous throughout the Arab world for its learnedness in Islamic law.

Mongi Slim's paternal grandfather was an aristocratic Caid who ruled the wealthy province of Cape Bon.

In 1936, Mongi Slim became involved in organizations advocating Tunisia's independence from France.

Mongi Slim served as an interior minister of Tunisia from 1955 to 1956.

Mongi Slim became involved in a special United Nations Committee on the problem of Hungary and served as a delegate to the United Nations Security Council.

Mongi Slim made the cover of Time magazine in September 1961.

The United States came up with a plan to have Mongi Slim carry out the duties of Secretary-General while delegating his own duties to a Vice-President of the General Assembly.

Mongi Slim left the United Nations in 1962 and became Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia.