Egypt–Tunisia relations

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Egyptian–Tunisian relations
Map indicating locations of Egypt and Tunisia

Egypt
Tunisia

Egyptian–Tunisian relations is the long, historical and cordial relationship between Egypt and Tunisia, two North African Arab countries.

Antiquity to medieval relations[]

Egypt and Tunisia were homes of two of the earliest and oldest civilizations in Africa, the Egyptian civilization and Carthaginian civilization. Being two ancient countries, trades between Carthage and Ptolemaic Kingdom was extremely abundant, if not say, good and extensive. Nonetheless, rivalry existed between two countries, as the Egyptians didn't trust the Carthaginians and sometimes turned against the Carthaginians, making it complicated.[1] This complicated nature between two nations would maintain until the end of antiquity and beginning of medieval eras.[2]

War elephants of Hannibal were thought to have traced from the Egyptians, many took parts on Hannibal's failed attempts to conquer Rome.[3]

Both Egypt and Tunisia were together fallen to various empires later, the Roman Empire, the Arab Caliphates and Ottoman Empire. The most influential among all were the conquests led by Arabs on two countries, in which two nations adopted the Arabic language instead of their ancient languages, and the arrival of Islam.[4] The influence of Islam and Arab also caused significant remarks, with some of the oldest ongoing institutions located in two countries, notably Al-Azhar University[citation needed] in Egypt and Great Mosque of Kairouan[5] in Tunisia.

With the Ottoman conquest, Egypt and Tunisia were together placed under the Turks, but Ottoman rule in two diverged by differences. Ottoman Egypt and Ottoman Tunisia both functioned as autonomous provinces of the empire, but relationship were remarkedly different. The Tunisians, in majority, remained loyal to the Ottoman state, and had been one of the earliest regions to support the Tanzimat, including abolishment of slavery which was one of the earliest in the world, at 1846,[6] and was even among some of the most liberal parts of the empire;[7] but the Egyptians had a number of conflicts with the Turks, dating back to the Ottoman–Mamluk Wars,[8] and even later Egyptian–Ottoman Wars;[9] while at the same time, Egypt used to support the Ottomans in various Ottoman wars.[10] This backlash of relations between Egypt to the Ottoman Empire further developed with its own different view that would eventually escalate into 20th century under Gamal Abdel Nasser. Overall, Tunisia's relations with the Ottomans were deemed as good while Egypt's relations with the Ottomans were mostly complicated.

In late 19th century, both Egypt and Tunisia fell to the hand of European colonizers, the British Empire and France. Both were heavily modernized and effectively became some of the most liberal Arab countries, but its treatments varied.[11] However, anti-British and anti-French activities in Egypt and Tunisia were so great that it pushed the British and French to re-decide their positions over its colonies.[12] Both countries suffered much at the World War II, being targeted by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy; and also the turning points of the war started in both nations, notably the North African Campaign.[13]

Modern relations[]

With Tunisia became independence at 1956, Egypt and Tunisia established relations thanked for the efforts by Habib Bourguiba, who used to study in Egypt previously.[14] Egypt and Tunisia maintained cordial relationship, with Egypt and Tunisia were in common front against Israel. However, after Anwar Sadat signed the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty at 1973, relationship between two soured, though not directly, as Tunisia had refrained from engaging against Israel unlike Egypt prior to Sadat.[15] It was not until late 1980s that saw Egypt and Tunisia restored tie, but Tunisia was able to maintain low-key relations with Egypt.

In 1985, Israel launched Operation Wooden Leg, attacking Palestine Liberation Organization headquarter in Tunis, prompted angers from Tunisians.[16] Egypt was one of these nations to condemn the attack, helped warming relations. After the end of Cold War, Egypt and Tunisia re-approached and became strategic partnership.

Arab Spring[]

The outbreak of the Arab Spring drew strong support from both Tunisians and Egyptians alike, since they were the two earliest Arab nations to be influenced by the revolution.[17] Despite this however, only Tunisia was more successful in transforming into democracy; Egypt, on the other hand, saw a second change of regime and even more unrest, although it was able to fully avoid civil war unlike Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Libya.[18]

Despite the Spring, the two countries remain unsolved over its social issues. Radicalization of young people and Islamists alike,[19] along with unstable economic conditions, have led to the two countries remaining corrupt even after the Spring.[20]

Cooperation[]

In 2019, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced strengthening of relations and anti-terrorism with Tunisia.[21] Previously, two countries also signed 10 cooperation agreements in 2017.[22] It was expected, in 2017, that the trade relationship between two would have a boost.[23]

There are educational exchanges between Egypt and Tunisia in many fronts.[24]

Diplomatic missions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "How were relations between Carthage and Ptolemaic Egypt?". History Forum. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Ptolemaic-Carthaginian Relations". UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  3. ^ Wilford, John Noble (18 September 1984). "The Mystery of Hannibal's Elephants". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Egypt - From the Islamic conquest to 1250". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Great Mosque of Kairouan - Kairouan, Tunisia". Sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. ^ Montana, Ismael Musah (2013). The Abolition of Slavery in Ottoman Tunisia. ISBN 978-0813044828.
  7. ^ "Women, Gender, and the Palace Households in Ottoman Tunisia By Amy Aisen Kallander". Utpress.utexas.edu. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  8. ^ Har-El, Shai (1995). Struggle for Domination in the Middle East: The Ottoman-Mamluk War, 1485-91. ISBN 9004101802.
  9. ^ McGregor, Andrew James; Andrew Mcgregor, Mcgregor (2006). A Military History of Modern Egypt: From the Ottoman Conquest to the Ramadan War. ISBN 0275986012.
  10. ^ Öztürk, Temel (1 January 2016). "Egyptian Soldiers in Ottoman Campaigns from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries". War in History. 23 (1): 4–19. doi:10.1177/0968344514539944. S2CID 159757281.
  11. ^ Kinsey, David C. (31 March 1971). "Efforts for Educational Synthesis under Colonial Rule: Egypt and Tunisia". Comparative Education Review. 15 (2): 172–187. doi:10.1086/445529. JSTOR 1186728. S2CID 143357206.
  12. ^ Clancy-Smith, Julia (19 December 2017). "North Africa and France: Imperialism, Colonialism, and Women, 1830–1962". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History. 1. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.013.97. ISBN 9780190277734. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via oxfordre.com.
  13. ^ Taylor, Alan. "World War II: The North African Campaign - The Atlantic". Theatlantic.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  14. ^ Hopwood, Derek; Terry, Sue Mi (27 July 2016). Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia: The Tragedy of Longevity. Springer. p. 66. ISBN 9781349221776. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Ghiles-Meilhac, Samuel (25 November 2014). "Tunisia's relations with Israel in a comparative approach. The case of the debate on normalisation during the Arab Awakening". Bulletin du Centre de recherche français à Jérusalem (25). Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via journals.openedition.org.
  16. ^ "Thirty years later, Hattab family loses another member to anti-Semitism". Ynetnews.com. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ Editorial (16 January 2014). "The Arab spring: made in Tunisia, broken in Egypt". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  19. ^ Hamid, Shadi. "Radicalization after the Arab Spring: Lessons from Tunisia and Egypt". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  20. ^ Mourdoukoutas, Panos. "'Arab Spring' In Vain: Tunisia And Egypt Remain Corrupt". Forbes.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Egypt, Tunisia agree to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation". Middle East Monitor. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Egypt, Tunisia sign 10 agreements during cooperation talks". Egypt Independent. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  23. ^ "INTERVIEW: Egypt, Tunisia have opportunity to boost economic relations, says Tunisian PM Youssef Chahed - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online". English.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  24. ^ Faour, Muhammad. "Religious Education and Pluralism in Egypt and Tunisia". Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Egyptian Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia". Consul.info. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  26. ^ [1][dead link]

Further reading[]

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