Habib Bourguiba (Arabic:الحبيب بورقيبةḤabīb Būrgība; full name: Habib Ben Ali Bourguiba; 3 August 1903 – 6 April 2000) was a Tunisian statesman who served as the country's leader from independence in 1956 to 1987--first as Prime Minister from 1956 to 1957 and as its first President from 1957 to 1987.