Ministry of Foreign Affairs Announces Tarak Ben Salem as New Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday, May 27, 2024, the appointment of Tarak Ben Salem as the new Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA). His nomination, which will take effect on June 1, 2024, marks the beginning of a three-year mandate. He succeeds Taieb Baccouche, who has held the position since 2016.
Tarak Ben Salem, 64, is a seasoned diplomat with a distinguished career. Since October 2016, he has served as a diplomatic advisor to the presidency of the Tunisian government, accumulating over seven years of experience in this strategic role. Prior to this, he was the Director General for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held from 2015 to 2016. From 2011 to 2015, he represented Tunisia as Ambassador to Mali, after leading the Euro-Mediterranean relations department within the same ministry from 2008 to 2011. He also served as Chargé d'Affaires at the Tunisian Embassy in Helsinki from 2002 to 2007.
Tarak Ben Salem holds a Master's degree in Public Law from the Faculty of Law of Paris XI, obtained in 1984, as well as a higher education diploma from the National School of Administration in Tunis. His vast experience and expertise in diplomacy are expected to bring a new dynamic to the Arab Maghreb Union, a regional organization aiming to strengthen cooperation among its member states.