Hundreds of Tunisians have protested the visit by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who arrived in the country on Tuesday evening.
This was a rare hostile reception for the Crown Prince who has previously enjoyed support in the region.
The protests were centred on the Crown Prince’s alleged involvement in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country’s consulate in Turkey.
The protestors chanted “the murderer is not welcome in Tunisia” and “Shame on Tunisia’s rulers” for receiving bin Salman.
After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said last month that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.
Prince Mohammed was welcomed by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on arrival at Tunis airport, the presidency said, and the two went into talks shortly afterwards at Carthage Palace.
The prince told Tunisian state television that Saudi Arabia and Tunisia have a long standing good relationship.
A Tunisian presidency statement issued later said Prince Mohammed and President Essebsi reviewed ways to improve cooperation on the “economy and finance, investment promotion and security and military cooperation to counter extremism and terrorism.”
