Egypt–Tunisia relations
Egypt–Tunisia relations are the ties between two North African countries. They are both members of international groups such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union, the United Nations, and the Union for the Mediterranean.
In ancient times, Egypt and Carthage (in present-day Tunisia) were two big civilizations that traded with each other but also had conflicts. The spread of Islam and the Arabic language shaped both nations, and important religious centers like Cairo’s Al-Azhar University and the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia are notable.
Under the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia was mostly loyal while Egypt had a more complicated relationship. In the 19th century both regions were influenced by European powers and later participated in World War II.
Tunisia gained independence in 1956 and Egypt followed after. The two nations initially cooperated against Israel, but Egypt’s 1973 peace treaty with Israel cooled their ties. They restored relations in the late 1980s and have since focused on practical cooperation.
After the Cold War, Egypt and Tunisia built a strategic partnership. The Arab Spring united them in support, with Tunisia becoming a democracy and Egypt undergoing major reforms and challenges. In 2017 they signed about ten cooperation agreements, and in 2019 President Sisi reaffirmed anti-terrorism cooperation and higher trade and educational exchanges continue.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 00:39 (CET).