Tunisia had declared itself bankrupt in 1869…

Tunisia had declared itself bankrupt in 1869 and an international financial commission had taken control over its economy.

Russian victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 foreshadows the dismemberment of the already declining Ottoman Empire, including independence for several Balkan possession and international discussions about the future of the North African provinces.

The Congress of Berlin, held in 1878, had convened to discuss the Ottoman Empire, the "sick man" of Europe, following its decisive defeat by Russia, with a focus on its Balkan possessions.

At the Congress, arrangements are also understood, e.g., in Germany and Britain, that allow France to incorporate Tunisia.

Italy is promised Tarabulus in what will become Libya.

Britain supports French influence in Tunisia in exchange for its own protectorate over Cyprus (recently "purchased" from the Ottomans), and French cooperation regarding a nationalist revolt in Egypt.

In the meantime, however, an Italian company has apparently bought the Tunis-Goletta-Marsa rail line; yet French strategy works to circumvent this and other issues created by the sizable colony of Tunisian Italians.

Direct attempts by the French to negotiate with the Bey their entry into Tunisia fail.

France waits, searching to find reasons to justify the timing of a preemptive strike, now actively contemplated.

Italians will call this strike the Schiaffo di Tunisi.