Tunisia bids farewell to its first democratically elected president

BY Libyan Express Jul 27, 2019 - 16:08

Convoy transporting Essebsi’s body to the cemetery in Tunis. [Photo: Internet]

Tunisia has bidden farewell to its first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi on Saturday at a state funeral attended by foreign leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Al-Sirraj.

Other dignitaries attending his funeral in the capital Tunis included Algerian President Abdelkader Ben Saleh, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Felipe VI of Spain, along with thousands of Tunisians.

Essebsi, who helped guide Tunisia’s transition to democracy after the 2011 revolution, died aged 92 on Thursday.

The late president’s coffin, covered with the red and white Tunisian flag, was placed on a military truck in the palace of Carthage, about 10 kilometres from the capital.

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