Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations

The Arab conquest at 7th century had brought Tunisia into an Islamic sphere. A mosque, which is regarded as the fourth holiest place in the Islamic world, the Great Mosque of Kairouan, was built in Tunisia.{{Cite web |date=2010-04-11 |title=Great Mosque of Kairouan |url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/tunisia/kairouan-great-mosque |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223184119/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/tunisia/kairouan-great-mosque |archive-date=2012-02-23 |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Sacred Destinations}}

File:Ambassade d'Arabie Saoudite en Tunisie, 2019 - 1.jpg

Both two nations have increased significant cooperation since the independence of Tunisia from France. The Saudi Kingdom has attempted to increase their Islamic doctrine into Tunisia for several years recently.{{cite web |last=Amara |first=Tarek |date=2016-11-04 |title=Tunisian PM sacks minister over criticism of Saudi Arabian Islam |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-saudi/tunisian-pm-sacks-minister-over-criticism-of-saudi-arabian-islam-idUSKBN12Z1QD |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204110745/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-saudi/tunisian-pm-sacks-minister-over-criticism-of-saudi-arabian-islam-idUSKBN12Z1QD |archive-date=2018-12-04 |work=Reuters}}

After the Tunisian Revolution in 2011, which ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Saudi Arabia has granted asylum for Zine Ben Ali, who himself is a long time friend for the Saudis,{{cite web |date=2017-02-02 |title=Flight of the dictator: The pilot who flew Tunisia's Ben Ali into exile |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/tunisia-ben-ali-s-escape-told-his-pilot-428652270 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202165812/http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/tunisia-ben-ali-s-escape-told-his-pilot-428652270 |archive-date=2017-02-02 |work=Middle East Eye}} while supports Tunisia on their track of recovery. Nonetheless, new Tunisian Government has shown unhappiness towards Saudi Arabia's decision to grant Ben Ali's asylum and has demanded the Saudi Government to extradite back to Tunisia for trials.{{cite web |date=2011-02-22 |title=Tunisia demands Ben Ali's extradition from Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/tunisia-demands-ben-ali-s-extradition-from-saudi-arabia-1.415010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123211753/https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/tunisia-demands-ben-ali-s-extradition-from-saudi-arabia-1.415010 |archive-date=2017-11-23 |work=The National}}

However, Tunisia's relations with Saudi Arabia started to get strained with the ascension of Mohammed Bin Salman as Saudi Crown Prince, as Saudi Arabia was hostile toward the Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia. In November 2018, on a trip to Tunisia, Mohammed Bin Salman was greeted by protests from locals in the wake of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.{{Cite web |last=McKernan |first=Bethan |date=2018-11-27 |title=Khashoggi killing: Saudi crown prince greeted with protests in Tunisia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/khashoggi-killing-saudi-prince-greeted-with-tunisia-protests |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127171812/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/khashoggi-killing-saudi-prince-greeted-with-tunisia-protests |archive-date=2018-11-27 |website=The Guardian}}

In 2019 and in the framework of the Arab League summit, King Salman bin Abdulaziz visited Tunisia as a response to the invitation of President Essebsi.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-28 |title=King Salman received by President Essebsi on arrival in Tunisia for official visit |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1474046/saudi-arabia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328150346/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1474046/saudi-arabia |archive-date=2019-03-28 |access-date=2019-03-28 |website=Arab News |language=en}}

==See also==

• Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia
• Foreign relations of Tunisia

{{reflist}}

• [http://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/Tunisia/EN/Pages/default.aspx/ Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Republic of Tunisia]

{{Foreign relations of Saudi Arabia}}

{{Foreign relations of Tunisia}}

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Tunisia

Category:Bilateral relations of Tunisia