doi:10.7916/rytt-qy28Oral history interview with Kamel Bennaceur, 2015Bennaceur, Kameloral historiesmixed materialArab Spring, 2010-Revolutions--TunisiaTunisia Officials and employeesTunisia Politics and government 2011-Tunisia Politics and government 1987-2011Tunisia History Demonstrations, 2010-Bennaceur, KamelJomaa, MehdiSchlumberger LimitedKamel Bennaceur, former Minister of Industry in the Jomaa cabinet, describes his experience growing up in Gafsa during the 1960s and 1970s as "a golden age" in Tunisian history. He speaks about his studies in France, which prepared him for a career in engineering. He describes working in Research & Development and Management for the French oil and gas company Schlumberger Limited, which required around 10 moves over a period of about 30 years. During the revolution, he was surprised that Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was so easily displaced, optimistic about the responses of ordinary Tunisians, and disapproving of many transition government decisions. He describes how he became a part of the provisional government; Bennaceur easily adjusted to working in the Tunisian government, and his wife was very supportive. He describes how the cabinet quickly became a team and faced several crises together, including their approval by the National Assembly and the Chaambi Mountain attacks in 2014. Bennaceur characterizes the mining and energy sectors as challenges, particularly negotiations with labor. He discusses his biggest challenge as working in a system that was neither organized nor adequately prepared for personnel changes; his biggest successes were the positive feedback about cabinet leadership from all ministries, and the friendly contacts established with foreign embassies. In analyzing the future, he does not wish to continue in Tunisian politics, but has some goals for the administration