U.S. officials confirmed on Sunday that an American citizen, Robert Vieira, who had been detained in Tunisia for 13 months, has been released. U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler made the announcement, stating that Vieira was now on his way home with his family.
Vieira, who had been in Tunisia for missionary work, was arrested in March 2024 and was suspected by Tunisian authorities of espionage. Boehler expressed appreciation for Tunisia’s decision to resolve the case, allowing Vieira to reunite with his loved ones after more than a year in pre-trial detention.
“I want to thank the government of Tunisia for their cooperation in bringing this matter to a close,” Boehler said, adding that he had worked closely with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti to facilitate Vieira’s release.