Saeed Al-Madhabi formally designated as Tunisia's ambassador to Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
27 Apr 2023 21:10

Al Madhabi serves as the first Tunisian ambassador to Syria since 2011, when the two countries had cut diplomatic ties, and acts as Tunisia's plenipotentiary in Syria.

Al-Madhabi poses for a picture with President Kais Said after being appointed ambassador to Syria, April 27, 2023

Al-Madhabi was formally appointed as ambassador to Syria by the President after submitting his credentials.

Al Madhabi serves as the first Tunisian ambassador to Syria since 2011, when the two countries had cut diplomatic ties, and acts as Tunisia's plenipotentiary in Syria.

Earlier today, Tunisian President Kais Saied issued directives in regard to re-establishing with Syria by appointing an ambassador to Damascus

Back in March, Tunisian President Kais Saied pointed out that he plans to restore diplomatic relations with Syria, elevating them to a higher level, whereby ambassadors are exchanged, more than a decade after they were broken off.

رئيس الجمهورية #قيس_سعيد يشرف على موكب تسليم أوراق الاعتماد للسيد محمد المهذبي، سفيرا فوق العادة ومفوضا للجمهورية التونسية لدى الجمهورية العربية السورية. #TnPR pic.twitter.com/ZcKu93skzT
— Tunisian Presidency - الرئاسة التونسية (@TnPresidency) April 27, 2023

The Tunisian President indicated that the "question of the regime in Syria concerns only the Syrians," rejecting any interference in the affairs and choices of others. Saied’s proclamation was considered at the time the latest indication that restoring a full return to diplomatic relations with Syria will be imminent.

Tunisia expelled Syria's Ambassador in 2012 over the war in the country. The diplomatic rupture, undertaken when former President Moncef Marzouki was still in office, was strongly criticized by the opposition at the time.

In 2015, Tunisia took a step toward re-establishing relations when it designated a consular representative to Syria to follow the situation of Tunisians in the war-torn country.

Seeking to track down more than 3,000 extremist Tunisian fighters who were fighting alongside terrorist organizations in Syria, Tunisia returned a limited diplomatic mission to Syria in 2017.