Karima Bardaoui

Her Excellency Ambassador Karima BARDAOUI is a career diplomat currently serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tunisia to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, and the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Ambassador BARDAOUI joined the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997 and has since held several senior diplomatic and leadership positions, reflecting a career spanning bilateral, multilateral, political, and strategic diplomacy. Her previous assignments include:

• Ambassador of Tunisia to the Czech Republic (2017–2019)

• Member of the Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations in New York, with responsibility for the Third Committee (social, humanitarian, and cultural affairs) (2014–2017)

• Counsellor for Political Affairs, Communications and Press at the Tunisian Embassy in Paris (2006–2011)

• Director for the Americas at the Americas–Asia Directorate General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019–2023)

In her current role in Southern Africa, Ambassador BARDAOUI has led a dynamic diplomatic agenda encompassing economic diplomacy, cultural outreach, and science and innovation diplomacy. She notably coordinated initiatives marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and South Africa, while actively advancing Tunisia’s bilateral relations with all countries under her accreditation, with a strong emphasis on political dialogue, trade and investment, academic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador BARDAOUI is a strong proponent of science diplomacy as a strategic instrument for advancing African cooperation, fostering innovation-driven development, and building sustainable, knowledge-based partnerships. She actively supports collaboration between Tunisian and Southern African universities, research centres, and innovation ecosystems, in alignment with the African Union’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STISA-2034).

Her engagement in high-level science and innovation initiatives reflects a diplomatic vision that bridges scientific communities, empowers youth and researchers, and positions Tunisia as a connector between North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the wider Mediterranean scientific space. She consistently highlights the critical role of science and technology in addressing shared continental priorities, including climate resilience, food security, health technologies, digital transformation, and the promotion of women in STEM and leadership.

Ambassador BARDAOUI holds a Master’s degree in Law and has completed advanced diplomatic and economic training in Europe, including programmes in Madrid and at the École nationale d’administration (ENA) in Paris and Strasbourg. She has also undertaken specialised training in international relations, public diplomacy, media engagement, and crisis management at leading institutions, including the Clingendael Institute (Netherlands), Deutsche Welle Akademie (Germany), and TÜBİTAK (Türkiye).

During her tenure in New York, she further participated in UNITAR training workshops focused on the drafting, negotiation, and adoption of United Nations resolutions.

Widely respected for her commitment to intercultural dialogue, regional integration, and multilateral engagement, Ambassador BARDAOUI is recognised for advancing Tunisia’s strategic interests abroad through inclusive and forward-looking diplomacy. She champions a vision of an innovative, resilient, and interconnected Africa, driven by scientific excellence, shared prosperity, and strengthened South-South and triangular cooperation.