Rafik Abdessalem
Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968 |
| Nationality | Tunisian |
| Education | Mohammed V University (BA in Philosophy), University of Westminster (PhD in Politics and International Relations) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, academic, author |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Foreign Minister of Tunisia (2011–2013) |
| Notable work | Two books: Religion: Secularism and Democracy; United States of America: Between Hard Power and Soft Power |
| Spouse | Soumaya Ghannouchi |
| Children | 2 |
Rafik Abdessalem Bouchlaka is a Tunisian political figure who held the position of foreign minister during the administration of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali from 2011 until 2013.
Education
Abdessalem earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Mohammed V University and completed his doctorate in politics and international relations at the University of Westminster in 2003.
Career
From 1987 to 1990, Abdessalem was involved with the executive committee of the Union Générale des Etudiants de Tunisie (UGET). While residing in London, he established the Maghreb Center for Research and Translation and led the London Platform for Dialogue. His academic roles included a visiting scholarship at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, alongside serving as senior researcher and head of Research and Studies at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies. Abdessalem has authored two books and contributed numerous articles to Asharq Al-Awsat.
A member of the Ennahda Movement, he is also connected by marriage to party leader Rached Ghannouchi, being his son-in-law. Following the 2011 revolution in Tunisia, Abdessalem was appointed foreign minister in the country’s inaugural democratic government under Prime Minister Jebali. During Ben Ali’s rule, he lived in exile and led Ennahda’s bureau abroad before returning after a 21-year absence.
Within Ennahdha, Abdessalem holds several key roles: he is part of the Executive Bureau responsible for External Relations, a member of the Political Bureau, and has been on the Consultative Council since 2007.
In 2014, he established and assumed leadership as Director of the Centre for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies (CSDS).
In April 2016, investigations implicated him in controversies including the Sheraton affair and a Chinese donation case involving a $1 million transfer into his personal account at Société Tunisienne de Banque.
In 2025, Abdessalem received a prison sentence related to corruption charges.
Personal life
He is married to Soumaya Ghannouchi, the youngest daughter of Rached Ghannouchi, and they have two children together.
Bibliography
- In Religion: Secularism and Democracy (Book not cited)
- United States of America: Between Hard Power and Soft Power (Book not cited)