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 Syria |  Tunisia |
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Syria–Tunisia relations refers to thebilateral relations between theRepublic of Tunisia andSyria.[1] Tunisia has an embassy inDamascus. Syria has an embassy inTunis.[2] Both countries are members of theArab League[3] and of theUnion for the Mediterranean, although Syria was suspended in 2011.[4][5] They are bound by cultural and historical ties and have enjoyed a very cordial relationship. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 June 1956.[6]
The 11th session of the Tunisian-Syrian High Joint Committee met in Tunis in May 2010. The two countries share experience and information on such issues as housing, shipping, and tourism.[7] On 12 July 2010, Tunisian PresidentZine El Abidine Ben Ali held a talks with Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad inCarthage Palace, Tunis.[8]
TheTunisian Revolution that began on 17 December 2010, resulted in longtime President of TunisiaZine El Abidine Ben Ali being overthrown when the Islamists represented by theEnnahda Movement took the reins of power in Carthage. This has resulted in general instability in the region and the rise of multiple terrorist groups who have led attacks against both countries.[9]
Rashid al-Ghannushi, president ofEnnahda Movement, Tunisia's largest party stated on 2 November 2011 that SNC is the legitimate representative of Syria, at the same time he closed Syrian embassy in Tunis and ousted Syrian ambassador. On 16 December 2011, SNC hold three-day congress (its first international congress) inTunis where Tunisia's newly elected president,Moncef Marzouki, participated in the talks and had a press conference with SNC's presidentBurhan Ghalioun.[10][11]
In February 2012, new Tunisian PresidentMoncef Marzouki announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Syria due to “increased civilian deaths at the hands of government forces”, according to a statement issued by the Tunisian Presidency.[12]
In July 2015, afterBeji Caid Essebsi assumed the presidency of Tunisia, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs appointed a consul-general in Damascus.[13] Tunisia's Foreign MinisterTaïeb Baccouche also described cutting diplomatic relation with Syria as a "wrong procedure".[14] TheGovernment of Tunisia was keen on its interest in tracking the 3,000 Tunisians who travelled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS. This move enabled the Tunisian leadership opening information channel to share informations with Damascus.[15]
In 2016, the former Foreign MinisterKhemaies Jhinaoui also indicated that “the level of diplomatic relations with Syria is not at the ambassadorial level, but rather at the consular level.[16]
In late 2018,Egypt,Tunisia andMorocco began lobbying for Syria's return to the League.[16] In 2019,France24 speculated that new presidentKais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria.[17]
Following the2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, President Saied decided to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria.[18] In April 2023, after the visit of foreign ministerFaisal Mekdad in Tunis, Syria officially re-established diplomatic relations with Tunisia.[19] It came as influential Tunisian IslamistEnnahdha party leaderRached Ghannouchi was detained after a police search.[20] On 19 May 2023, PresidentBashar al-Assad met Tunisian President Kais Saied on the sidelines of theArab League Summit inJeddah, Saudi Arabia.[21] The two presidents discussed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and bilateral cooperation in various fields.
In May 2023, the Tunisian embassy in Damascus was reopened with new ambassador, Abdul Hadi Muhammad Al-Mahdhabi.[22] On 2 October 2023, Muhammed Muhammed was sworn in as the new Syrian Ambassador in Tunis.[23] On 11 January 2024, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed presented his credentials to Tunisian President Kais Saied as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Republic of Tunisia.[24]
The following is a list oftwinning agreements between the cities ofTunisia andSyria:
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