Tunisia President Kais Saied arrives in Washington for US-Africa leaders summit

Tunisian President Kais Saied is visiting Washington to participate in a US-Africa leaders summit taking place this week.

Saied, whose power grab in Tunisia in July last year was labelled a 'coup' by many Tunisians, arrived on US soil on Monday after being invited to attend the summit by US President Joe Biden.

The summit aims to demonstrate the US' "enduring commitment to Africa" and boost relations with countries on the continent, according to the US State Department, running Tuesday to Thursday.

"The President… Qais Saeed, left this morning, Monday… to the United States of America to participate in... the summit of leaders of the United States of America and Africa," the Tunisian Presidency wrote in a statement.

"Upon his arrival at the airport, the President of the Republic was presented with a line-up of the three armies that saluted him, before saluting the flag to the tune of the national anthem."

The leaders' summit will also strive to "foster new economic engagement, advance peace, security and good governance, respond to the climate crisis, [and] promote food security", according to the US.

Saied's US visit comes after hundreds protested against him across Tunisia on Saturday, ahead of parliamentary elections that represent the latest consolidation of his 2021 power grab.

Saied's moves since July last year, while initially welcomed by some, have raised fears among others that the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring protest movements is headed back to autocracy.