Discreet yet Constant, Tunisia's Participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions Shapes its International Image
Tunisia's engagement in the Central African Republic, through the Minusca mission, exemplifies a diplomacy based on professionalism, reliability, and a sense of duty.
The decoration of 75 Tunisian peacekeepers in Bangui on February 3, for their contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca), goes beyond a simple operational recognition. It illustrates, once again, the unique role that Tunisia plays on the international stage: that of a discreet yet credible actor in peace diplomacy, carried by the professionalism of its armed forces.
Soldiers and Ambassadors of the Tunisian State
In peacekeeping operations, each contingent is more than a military instrument; it becomes a vector of image, a direct extension of the state it represents. The Tunisian peacekeepers, and in particular the Tunisian Air Transport Unit deployed since August 2025 within the Minusca mission in Central Africa, embody this silent diplomacy.
Their performances – over 500 hours of flight, thousands of passengers and tons of cargo transported, vital medical evacuations, and decisive logistical support for the Central African elections – have consolidated the image of a reliable, disciplined, and efficient Tunisia, capable of operating in complex contexts without seeking excessive visibility.
This approach contrasts with that of more assertive powers or states with limited means, which often use their resources for international purposes rather than for the growth and development of their population, and whose actions are sometimes perceived as interventionist or motivated by poorly defined interests, or even belligerent.
On the other hand, Tunisia distinguishes itself through a strategy based on prudence, patience, and multilateralism, prioritizing dialogue, cooperation, and respect for national sovereignty. This posture reinforces not only its aura within the international community but also allows it to cultivate balanced relationships with various partners, near or far, thus consolidating a durable credibility that relies on the constancy of its commitments rather than on the demonstration of power, whether real or fictitious.
The Minusca, a Strategic Theater at the Heart of Africa
The Central African Republic is today one of the most sensitive territories on the African continent, at the crossroads of major security, humanitarian, and geopolitical issues. Chronic instability, armed groups, international rivalries: the Minusca operates in an environment where every operational contribution has political weight.
In this context, the Tunisian presence, hailed as a "logistical pillar" of the mission by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, confirms Tunisia's positioning as a responsible African actor, committed to collective security without a hidden agenda. This choice is not trivial; it inscribes Tunisia in a logic of African strategic depth, at a time when the continent is becoming a central space for the recomposition of global balances.
A Tunisian Tradition Anchored in the History of the United Nations
For the record, Tunisia's participation in peacekeeping missions is neither recent nor opportunistic. Since the 1960s, Tunisia has contributed to numerous UN operations, in the Congo, Cambodia, Haiti, Mali, or the Democratic Republic of Congo. This constancy is part of a clear doctrine: supporting multilateralism, prioritizing political solutions to conflicts, and strengthening the legitimacy of international law.
The Tunisian armed forces have gradually built a solid reputation, based on professional rigor, neutrality, and respect for local populations. The presence of women within the contingents, as highlighted by the testimony of Lieutenant Ahlem Laouini, also contributes to modernizing the image of the Tunisian army and aligning its participation with contemporary standards for peace operations.
An Underexploited Symbolic Capital in Diplomatic Terms
However, if the Tunisian peacekeepers effectively contribute to Tunisia's influence abroad, this value remains often insufficiently exploited in national diplomatic and strategic discourse. At a time when our country is seeking to strengthen its international credibility, attract partnerships, and affirm its place in multilateral forums, this human and operational capital constitutes a major asset.
The recognition expressed by UN officials, notably during the Bangui ceremony, reminds us that Tunisia still has levers of influence based not on economic or military power, but on the reliability, ethics, and commitment of its men and women in uniform.
A major asset that has also consolidated the reputation of a country respectful of sovereignty, attached to multilateralism and dialogue, cultivating balanced relationships, and prioritizing cooperation and mutual respect over conflict or interventionism in its external commitments.
An Image Built Far from the Spotlight
In a world dominated by instant communication and spectacular diplomacy, Tunisia continues to build its international image far from the spotlight, on the ground, at the cost of effort, rigor, and human commitment. In Bangui, behind the medals awarded to the Tunisian peacekeepers, there are hours of flight, lives saved, elections made possible, and a reassuring presence in one of the most unstable contexts on the continent.
These decorations remind us that Tunisia remains capable of projecting an image of stability, competence, and responsibility abroad, carried by women and men who embody, far from home, its values and sense of duty.
This image is also based on the neutrality of postures, prioritizing dialogue and refusing to support one group against another, a constitutive value of the Tunisian personality. It has constituted, for a long time, one of the pillars of our country's diplomatic strength. A precious image, built over time, which could become, if fully assumed and valued, one of the pillars of a more assertive Tunisian diplomacy, at a time when credibility has become one of the rarest currencies on the international stage.
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