CAIRO — The Libyan crisis cast its shadows over Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi's recent visit to Egypt to meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders have different approaches to Libya, and Essebsi's Oct. 4 visit ended without any agreement on how to calm the chaos in Libya and stop terrorists' expansion there.

Even so, the men agreed on the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and reaching a political solution to the crises experienced by countries in the region.

Ayman Mousharafa, Egypt’s ambassador to Tunisia, described Essebsi's visit as historic. “This is the first official visit of the president of Tunisia to Egypt in 50 years,” he told Al-Monitor.

Egyptian-Tunisian relations have improved markedly this year, as the leaders smooth over tensions that rose after Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was removed from office by the military July 3, 2013. When that happened, Tunisia responded the next day with an official statement: “The Egyptian military’s direct intervention in political affairs and in civil institutions’ activities is unacceptable internationally and as per the charter of the African Union, since [such intervention] may exacerbate the political crisis rather than resolve it.”