France–Tunisia relations are the current and historical relations between France and Tunisia. France invaded Tunisia in 1881 and established the French protectorate of Tunisia, which lasted until Tunisia's independence in 1956. In 1957, France cut off financial aid totaling $33.5 million to Tunisia because of its support for neighboring Algeria's independence movements.[1] At the time, Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba noted "France and Tunisia will never again be exclusive partners".[1] From 1987 until the 2011 Tunisian Revolution, France refused to criticize Tunisian President and ally Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, despite the deaths of numerous non-violent protesters. Ben Ali eventually resigned.[2] In October 2023, a demonstration in front of the French embassy in Tunis, condemning the "solidarity" visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Israel. They demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador to Tunisia, Anne Gueguen, denounced the Emmanuel Macron's visit to Tel Aviv on Tuesday and accused Paris of supporting Israel in its war against the Gaza Strip.[3]
Krüger, Laura-Theresa, and Bernhard Stahl. "The French foreign policy U-turn in the Arab Spring–the case of Tunisia". Mediterranean Politics 23.2 (2018): 197-222 online.
France
Africa
