Summary:

On 9 October 2023, reports surfaced identifying Tunisia’s new ambassadors that will take up residence in Paris and Rome after the terms of the serving ambassadors were ended. 

In early October, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs terminated the duties of the Tunisian Ambassador in Paris Mohamed Karim Jamoussi as well as the consul general Ridha Gharsallaoui. The Ministry did not provide an explanation regarding the termination. 

Tunisia has not appointed an ambassador to Rome since the departure of Ambassador Moez Sinauoi in late 2022. 

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar indicated in an interview that a rapprochement with Morocco may be imminent, stating that the two countries would soon return their ambassadors to their respective embassies. 

Diplomatic tensions have been ongoing between Tunis and Rabat since a late-2022 decision by President Kais Saied to include a Western Sahara leader in a conference in Tunis. The two countries recalled their respective ambassadors at that time, though the diplomatic relationship remained intact. 

Outlook:  

Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar has remained active on the diplomatic front in recent weeks as tension with Europe builds over the implementation of a security and economic assistance agreement signed in July. Ammar and the new ambassadors appointed to Paris and Rome will likely continue working to cultivate new partnerships and expand those already existing as tensions with Europe have risen. 

Despite nearly a year of tense relations between Morocco and Tunisia, there is renewed interest in exploring a return to regular diplomatic engagement.  

The reproachment comes as the world is bracing for large-scale military operations by Israel in the Gaza Strip. While Morocco normalized relations with Israel, Tunisia has been vocally opposed to Israel even as normalization rumors swirled.  

Divergent positions on the issue of Israel could slow a warming of diplomatic relations, but likely will not stop it as Tunisia remains interested in expanding foreign partnerships. 

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