Member State of the African Union Member State of the Arab League |
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Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Habib Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe, Pakistan, and the United States.
List of countries which Tunisia maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date [1] |
---|---|---|
1 | France | 20 March 1956 [2] |
2 | Syria | 2 June 1956 [3] |
3 | United States | 6 June 1956 [4] |
4 | Russia | 11 June 1956 [5] |
5 | United Kingdom | 19 June 1956 [6] |
6 | Italy | 20 June 1956 [7] |
7 | Libya | 22 June 1956 [8] |
8 | Japan | 26 June 1956 [9] |
9 | Saudi Arabia | June 1956 |
10 | Morocco | 18 July 1956 [10] |
11 | Bulgaria | 30 August 1956 [11] |
12 | Hungary | 31 August 1956 [12] |
13 | Switzerland | 30 October 1956 [13] |
14 | Germany | 7 December 1956 [14] |
15 | Egypt | 1956 |
16 | Greece | 1956 |
17 | Jordan | 1956 [15] |
18 | Sweden | 1956 [16] |
19 | Serbia | 17 February 1957 [17] |
20 | Portugal | 21 May 1957 [18] |
21 | Spain | 8 July 1957 [19] |
22 | Turkey | 22 July 1957 [20] |
23 | Pakistan | 19 August 1957 [21] |
24 | Canada | 9 September 1957 [22] |
25 | Lebanon | October 1957 [23] |
26 | Liberia | 1957 |
27 | Malaysia | 1957 |
28 | Belgium | 12 February 1958 [24] |
29 | Netherlands | February 1958 [25] |
30 | India | 2 April 1958 [26] |
31 | Ghana | 11 June 1958 [27] |
32 | Norway | 29 August 1958 [28] |
33 | Finland | 17 July 1959 [29] |
34 | Czech Republic | 29 July 1959 [30] |
35 | Cuba | 23 September 1959 [31] |
36 | Brazil | 7 October 1959 [32] |
37 | Poland | 15 November 1959 [33] |
38 | Sudan | 29 November 1959 [34] |
39 | Iran | 10 December 1959 [34] |
40 | Austria | 1959 |
41 | Iraq | 1959 |
42 | Denmark | 10 May 1960 [35] |
43 | Indonesia | 12 November 1960 [36] |
44 | Gabon | 1960 |
45 | Cameroon | 18 February 1961 [37] |
46 | Ivory Coast | 22 March 1961 [38] |
47 | Chile | 6 October 1961 [39] |
48 | Argentina | 11 October 1961 [40] |
49 | Mexico | 16 November 1961 [41] |
50 | Republic of the Congo | 1961 |
51 | Kuwait | 24 June 1962 [42] |
52 | Guinea | 30 June 1962 [43] |
53 | Ethiopia | 31 July 1962 [44] |
54 | Algeria | 13 November 1962 [45] |
55 | Mauritania | December 1962 [46] |
56 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1962 [47] |
57 | Senegal | 1962 |
58 | Romania | 16 December 1963 [48] |
59 | Mali | 1963 |
60 | China | 10 January 1964 [49] |
61 | Luxembourg | 28 April 1964 [50] |
62 | Burkina Faso | 1964 |
63 | Venezuela | 26 March 1965 [51] |
64 | Uruguay | 16 September 1965 [52] |
65 | Togo | 1965 |
66 | Benin | 22 December 1966 [53] |
67 | Thailand | 2 February 1967 [54] |
68 | Peru | 30 May 1967 [55] |
69 | Malta | 21 December 1967 [56] |
70 | Chad | 25 January 1968 [57] |
71 | Niger | 24 April 1968 [58] |
72 | Kenya | 26 November 1968 [59] |
73 | Tanzania | 2 December 1968 [60] |
74 | Uganda | 9 December 1968 [60] |
75 | Madagascar | 12 March 1969 [61] |
76 | South Korea | 31 March 1969 [62] |
77 | Somalia | July 1969 [23] |
78 | Nigeria | 15 January 1970 [63] |
79 | Iceland | 14 May 1970 [64] |
80 | Oman | December 1971 [65] |
81 | Central African Republic | 1971 |
82 | Rwanda | 1971 |
— | Holy See | 22 March 1972 [66] |
83 | United Arab Emirates | 14 June 1972 [67] |
84 | Qatar | 20 June 1972 [68] |
85 | Bahrain | 25 June 1972 [69] |
86 | Vietnam | 15 December 1972 [70] |
87 | Gambia | 28 December 1972 [71] |
88 | Equatorial Guinea | 1972 |
89 | Zambia | 1972 |
90 | Bangladesh | 17 July 1973 [72] |
91 | Albania | 8 October 1973 [73] |
92 | Costa Rica | 15 October 1973 [74] |
93 | Ireland | 16 January 1975 [75] |
94 | North Korea | 3 August 1975 [76] |
95 | Philippines | 15 December 1975 [77] |
96 | Mozambique | 1975 |
97 | Mauritius | 9 February 1976 [78] |
98 | Comoros | 1976 [79] |
99 | Mongolia | 15 February 1977 [80] |
100 | Australia | 17 February 1977 [81] |
101 | Djibouti | 1977 |
102 | Ecuador | 29 January 1980 [82] |
103 | Burundi | 1 March 1980 [83] |
104 | Guinea-Bissau | 1980 |
105 | Zimbabwe | 1980 |
106 | Colombia | 20 January 1981 [84] |
107 | Sri Lanka | 7 December 1981 [85] |
108 | Cape Verde | 1981 |
109 | Maldives | 10 September 1983 [86] |
110 | Angola | 1983 |
111 | Nepal | 14 April 1984 [87] |
112 | Singapore | 30 November 1984 [88] |
113 | Seychelles | 25 August 1986 [89] |
114 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 1986 |
115 | Vanuatu | 1 November 1988 [90] |
116 | Laos | 30 November 1989 [91] |
117 | Namibia | 23 March 1990 [92] |
118 | Brunei | 1 May 1990 [93] |
119 | Ukraine | 24 June 1992 [94] |
120 | Latvia | 26 June 1992 [95] |
121 | Estonia | 29 June 1992 [96] |
122 | Lithuania | 30 June 1992 [97] |
123 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 30 October 1992 [90] |
124 | Botswana | 11 November 1992 [90] |
125 | Kazakhstan | 23 November 1992 [98] |
126 | Kyrgyzstan | 25 November 1992 [99] |
127 | Uzbekistan | 26 November 1992 [100] |
128 | Turkmenistan | 30 November 1992 [101] |
129 | Slovakia | 1 January 1993 [102] |
130 | Croatia | 18 January 1993 [103] |
131 | Slovenia | 20 May 1993 [104] |
132 | Eritrea | 25 October 1993 [105] |
133 | South Africa | May 1994 [106] |
134 | Cambodia | 12 April 1995 [107] |
— | State of Palestine | 19 April 1995 [108] |
135 | Georgia | 7 March 1996 [109] |
136 | Belarus | 29 January 1997 [110] |
137 | Azerbaijan | 1 July 1998 [111] |
138 | Lesotho | 1 December 2000 [90] |
139 | Armenia | 15 July 2002 [90] |
140 | Moldova | 27 September 2004 [90] |
141 | San Marino | 17 December 2005 [112] |
142 | Tajikistan | 19 June 2006 [113] |
143 | Andorra | 20 November 2006 [90] |
144 | Montenegro | 7 March 2007 [114] |
145 | El Salvador | 14 March 2007 [90] |
146 | Guatemala | 19 March 2007 [90] |
147 | Panama | 15 June 2007 [90] |
148 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2 July 2007 [115] |
149 | New Zealand | 11 July 2012 [116] |
150 | Bolivia | 24 July 2012 [117] |
151 | South Sudan | 26 June 2015 [118] [119] |
152 | Malawi | 3 May 2017 [120] |
153 | Liechtenstein | 20 October 2017 [121] |
154 | Monaco | 19 September 2018 [122] |
155 | Dominican Republic | 27 September 2018 [90] |
156 | Paraguay | 1 November 2018 [90] |
157 | Nicaragua | 2 July 2019 [90] |
158 | North Macedonia | 27 September 2019 [90] |
159 | Jamaica | 26 September 2024 [90] |
160 | Afghanistan | Unknown |
161 | Cyprus | Unknown |
162 | Eswatini | Unknown |
163 | Sierra Leone | Unknown |
164 | Trinidad and Tobago | Unknown |
165 | Yemen | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Algeria | See Algeria–Tunisia relations Tunisia and Algeria resolved a longstanding border dispute in 1993 and have cooperated in the construction of the Trans-Mediterranean natural gas pipeline through Tunisia that connects Algeria to Italy. In 2003 Tunisia and Algeria formed Numhyd, a petroleum company to develop oil resources. It is jointly owned (each 50%) by government corporations, Algeria's Sonatrach and Tunisia's Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières (ETAP). Recently Tunisia signed an agreement with Algeria in order to demarcate more exactly the maritime frontier between the two countries. | |
Comoros | Both countries have established diplomatic relations. [123] | |
Egypt | 1956 [1] | See Egypt–Tunisia relations In the 1950s the President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, criticized on pragmatic grounds the type of Arab nationalism then promoted by Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, which was a widely popular ideology at the time in the Arabic-speaking countries. Their disagreement also concerned the policies of the Arab League. Bourguiba and Nassar eventually came to find some common ground. [124] Although ties were broken under Nasser, and again under Anwar Sadat, on the whole relations between Egypt and Tunisia have remained mutually beneficial. After the Tunisian revolution in 2011, the Tunisian-Egyptian relations were very good, especially after the 2011 elections in Tunisia, where won the Ennahda Movement Islamic-oriented the elections, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt won the elections, and also the convergence between the two presidents Moncef Marzouki and Mohamed Morsi. But since the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état, relations became increasingly strained, and between the two and considered Tunisia that what is happening in Egypt is a military coup d'État bloody and protested against it in the United Nations, which led to a diplomatic crisis in relations severed in an indirect way and there is a lack of official visits at all levels. After the 2014 elections in Tunisia and the win of Nidaa Tounes's secular movement, improved relations and exchanged visits between officials and ministers.
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Libya | 22 June 1956 | See Libya–Tunisia relations Tunisia's relations with Libya have been erratic since Tunisia annulled a brief agreement to form a union in 1974. Diplomatic relations were broken in 1976, restored in 1977, and deteriorated again in 1980, when Libyan-trained rebels attempted to seize the town of Gafsa. In 1982, the International Court of Justice ruled in Libya's favor in the partition of the oil-rich continental shelf it shares with Tunisia. Libya's 1985 expulsion of Tunisian workers and military threats led Tunisia to sever relations. Relations were normalized again in 1987. While supporting the United Nations sanctions imposed following airline bombings, Tunisia has been careful to maintain positive relations with its neighbor. Tunisia supported the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003, and Libya is again becoming a major trading partner. Currently, Tunisia has a maritime dispute with Libya. |
Morocco | 1956 [1] | Trade is increasing between Tunisia and Morocco. Direct maritime shipping commenced between the two countries in 2008 to supplement rail connections that remained uncertain. Also, the stock exchanges of Tunis and Casablanca this year began to jointly list the stock of a Maghriban company, this initial case involving an IPO. [125]
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Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Argentina | 11 October 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 October 1961.
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Belize | Both countries have passed a number of bilateral agreements. [126] | |
Brazil | 1956 |
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Canada | 9 September 1957 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 September 1957. |
Mexico | 16 November 1961 | See Mexico–Tunisia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 November 1961. |
United States | 6 June 1956 | See Tunisia–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 June 1956 [129] The United States has very good relations with Tunisia, which date back more than 200 years. The United States has maintained official representation in Tunis almost continuously since 1795, and the American Friendship Treaty with Tunisia was signed in 1799. The two governments are not linked by security treaties, but relations have been close since Tunisia's independence. The United States and Tunisia have an active schedule of joint military exercises. U.S. security assistance historically has played an important role in cementing relations. The U.S.-Tunisian Joint Military Commission meets annually to discuss military cooperation, Tunisia's defense modernization program, and other security matters. Since 2015, Tunisia and the United States are partners under the Major non-NATO partnership agreement.
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Tunisia has long been a voice for moderation and realism in the Middle East. Tunisia served as the headquarters of the Arab League from 1979 to 1990 and hosted the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) headquarters from 1982 to 1993, when the PLO Executive Committee relocated to Jericho and the Palestinian Authority was established after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The PLO Political Department remains in Tunis.
Tunisia consistently has played a moderating role in the negotiations for a comprehensive Middle East peace. In 1993, Tunisia was the first Arab country to host an official Israeli delegation as part of the Middle East peace process and maintained an Interests Section until the outbreak in 2000 of the Intifada. Israeli citizens of Tunisian descent may travel to Tunisia on their Israeli passports.
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Armenia | See Armenia–Tunisia relations
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Azerbaijan | 1 July 1998 | See Azerbaijan-Tunisia relations
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China | 10 January 1964 | See China–Tunisia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1964 [130] |
India | See India–Tunisia relations
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Iran | See Iran–Tunisia relations In May, 2005, Tunisia signed with Iran an agreement for cooperation in air, sea, and road transportation. It was signed on the visit of Tunisian minister Abderrahim Zouari to Iran. [131]
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Israel | See Israel–Tunisia relations
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Japan | Tunisia and Japan have a visa agreement, Tunisian people traveling to Japan and Japanese people traveling to Tunisia do not need a visa, as long as their stay do not exceed 3 months. Japan also supports Tunisia, with equipment and money donations. Both countries had friendly relations since Tunisia's independence in 1956. Since 2015, Tunisia and Japan are allies under the Major non-NATO ally agreement.
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Lebanon | Tunisia and Lebanon share historical and civilizational ties. In June, 2010, the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and his Lebanese counterpart Mr. Saad Hariri chaired a Tunisian-Lebanese working session. Both countries want to energize the process for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. In addition, Tunisia reaffirmed its support of Lebanon. [132]
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Pakistan | 19 August 1957 | See Pakistan–Tunisia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 August 1957 [133]
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Qatar | See Qatar–Tunisia relations Qatar is among the largest Arab investors in Tunisia. [134] Relations between Qatar and Tunisia improved immensely between 2011 and 2013, when Ennahda Movement-affiliated candidate Hamadi Jebali was declared Prime Minister of Tunisia in the 2011 Tunisian Constituent Assembly elections. Cooperation in all fields gradually started picking up traction; for instance, the two governments signed ten bilateral agreements in 2012. [135]
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Saudi Arabia | See Saudi Arabia–Tunisia relations In July 2010, a Tunisian-Saudi non-double taxation agreement was signed in Tunis, by Finance Minister Ridha Chalghoum and his Saudi counterpart Ibrahim Bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf. The two ministers said this convention will certainly help boost trade exchanges between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, stimulate investments, and favour exchange of expertise between the two countries. In particular, it will further the Tunisian-Saudi Investment and Development Bank "STUSID Bank" in developing financial co-operation and the contribution of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to boost the development process in Tunisia. The minister highlighted the importance of drawing on the two countries' expertise in the tax and customs field and set up a joint action plan to strengthen co-operation. [136] | |
Syria | 2 June 1956 | The 11th session of the Tunisian-Syrian High Joint Committee met in Tunis in May 2010. The two countries share experience and information on such issues as housing, shipping, and tourism. [137]
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Turkey | 1956 [141] | See Tunisia–Turkey relations |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Austria | ||
Bulgaria | 1956 |
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Croatia | 1993-01-30 |
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Cyprus | 1999 |
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Denmark |
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Finland | 17 July 1959 |
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France | See France–Tunisia relations Tunisia and France retain a special relationship due to their history, geographic location, and economic relationship. In France there is a sizeable Tunisian diaspora, and the French language is widely used in Tunisia. Business and government connections are extensive and mutually maintained. Ranked by country, France receives the largest amount of Tunisian exports, and France is number-one regarding Tunisian imports also. In recent years many French companies have re-localized production to Tunisia. | |
Germany |
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Greece | See Greece–Tunisia relations
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Italy | 20 June 1956 | See Italy–Tunisia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1956. [147] |
Malta | 21 December 1967 |
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Netherlands |
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Poland | See Poland–Tunisia relations
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Portugal |
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Romania | 1963 |
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Russia | 1956 | See Russia–Tunisia relations
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Spain | See Spain–Tunisia relations
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Sweden | See Sweden–Tunisia relations
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Ukraine |
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United Kingdom | 19 June 1956 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Tunisia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 19 June 1956. [6]
Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Association Agreement, [150] and an Investment Agreement. [151] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Australia | 17 February 1977 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 February 1977 [152] |
New Zealand | 11 July 2012 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 2012 [153] |
MEHIRI, ambassadeur de Tunisie en Côte d'Ivoire, au Niger et au Togo, nommé cumulativement au Dahomey, a présenté ses lettres de créance au Dahomey le 22.12.1966.
Tunisia - Peru . M. Adhemar Montagne , the Peruvian Ambassador to Tunisia , presented his credentials on May 30th .
[A]mbassadeur de Tunisie en Côte d'Ivoire et au Niger, a présenté ses lettres de créance au Niger le 24 avril 1968...
On March 31, 1969 Tunisia and South Korea established formal diplomatic relations, opening embassies in each other capitals.
Burkina Faso has good relations with the European Union, African and certain Asian countries.
Burundi's relations with its neighbours have often been affected by security concerns. During the Burundian Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some Burundian rebel groups have used neighboring countries as bases for insurgent activities. The 1993 embargo placed on Burundi by regional states hurt diplomatic relations with its neighbors; relations have improved since the 1999 suspension of these sanctions.
The foreign relations of Chad are significantly influenced by the desire for oil revenue and investment in Chadian oil industry and support for former Chadian President Idriss Déby. Chad is officially non-aligned but maintains close relations with France, its former colonial power. Relations with neighbouring countries Libya and Sudan vary periodically. Lately, the Idris Déby regime waged an intermittent proxy war with Sudan. Aside from those two countries, Chad generally enjoys good relations with its neighbouring states.
Cameroon's noncontentious, low-profile approach to foreign relations puts it squarely in the middle of other African and developing country states on major issues. It supports the principles of non-interference in the affairs of third world countries and increased assistance to underdeveloped countries. Cameroon is an active participant in the United Nations, where its voting record demonstrates its commitment to causes that include international peacekeeping, the rule of law, environmental protection, and Third World economic development. In the UN and other human rights fora, Cameroon's non-confrontational approach has generally led it to avoid criticizing other countries.
Cape Verde follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks cooperative relations with all friendly states. Angola, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, France, Germany, Portugal, Senegal, Russia, South Korea and the United States maintain embassies in Praia.
In November 1975, Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. The new nation was defined as consisting of the entire archipelago, despite the fact that France maintains control over Mayotte.
The government's official policy is one of nonalignment. In its search for assistance to meet the goal of national reconstruction, the government of Equatorial Guinea has established diplomatic relations with numerous European and Third World countries. Having achieved independence under UN sponsorship, Equatorial Guinea feels a special kinship with that organization. It became the 126th UN member on November 12, 1968. Equatorial Guinea served as a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council from 2017 to 2019.
Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and former Zaire. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Central African Republic (MINURCA).
The foreign relations of Guinea, including those with its West African neighbors, have improved steadily since 1985.
Following independence in 1960, Mali initially followed a socialist path and was aligned ideologically with the communist bloc. Mali's foreign policy orientation became increasingly pragmatic and pro-Western over time. Since the institution of a democratic form of government in 1992, Mali's relations with the West in general and the United States in particular have improved significantly. U.S.-Malian relations are described by the U.S. Department of State as "excellent and expanding," especially given Mali's recent record of democratic stability in the volatile area of West Africa and its avowed support of the war on terrorism. Mali is reported to be one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid in Africa.
Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.
For the two decades preceding the Republic of the Congo's 1991 National Conference, the country was firmly in the socialist camp, allied principally with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations. Educational, economic, and foreign aid links between Congo and its Eastern bloc allies were extensive, with the Congolese military and security forces receiving significant Soviet, East German, and Cuban assistance.
Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere also was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international organisations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the front-line states, the G-77, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). One of Africa's best-known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these organisations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984–85) and chairman of six front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. Nyerere was also involved with peace negotiations in Burundi until his death. Nyerere's death, on 14 October 1999, is still commemorated annually.
Although Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has strong historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, exchanging high commissioners with other Commonwealth countries. It recognizes the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba, and re-established relations with Israel in 1987.
After seizing power in the 1972 coup d'état, Major Mathieu Kérékou declared the People's Republic of Benin a Marxist-Leninist state and sought financial support from communist governments in Eastern Europe and Asia. To distance the modern state from its colonial past, the country became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. However, Benin dropped the socialist ideology in 1989 following pressure from creditors and domestic unrest related to economic hardship.
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau follows a nonaligned foreign policy and seeks friendly and cooperative relations with a wide variety of states and organizations. France, Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Cuba, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Ghana, and Russia have diplomatic offices in Bissau.
The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign and independent state, linked closely to France by the Treaty of July 1918, which was formally noted in Article 436 of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. The foreign policy of Monaco is one illustration of this accord: France has agreed to defend the independence and sovereignty of Monaco, while the Monegasque Government has agreed to exercise its sovereign rights in conformity with French interests, whilst at the same time maintaining complete independence. Since then, the relations between the sovereign states of France and Monaco have been further defined in the Treaty of 1945 and the Agreement of 1963.
Until independence in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe had few ties abroad except those that passed through Portugal. Following independence, the new government sought to expand its diplomatic relationships. A common language, tradition, and colonial legacy have led to close collaboration between São Tomé and other ex-Portuguese colonies in Africa, particularly Angola. São Toméan relations with other African countries in the region, such as Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, are also good. In December 2000, São Tomé signed the African Union treaty; it was later ratified by the National Assembly.
The foreign relations of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have, since 1960, been dominated by the issues of the Spanish Sahara and the recognition of its independence by its neighbours, particularly Morocco. Mauritania's foreign relations are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who is currently Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug.
Foreign relations of Djibouti are managed by the Djiboutian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Djibouti maintains close ties with the governments of Somalia, Ethiopia, France and the United States. It is likewise an active participant in African Union, United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League affairs.