"We're adamant here in Tunisia on maintaining the sovereignty of our country, which is why we refuse to interfere in the affairs of other countries," Essebsi said at a political rally on Tuesday.

"Egypt is a sister country that has undergone major changes and we shouldn't interfere in its internal affairs," he said.

At a 2013 UN General Assembly meeting, Tunisia's interim president, Moncef Marzouki, called on the Egyptian government to release ousted president Mohamed Morsi – and all other political prisoners – from jail.

The Egyptian government, for its part, branded Marzouki's appeal as "interference in Egypt's internal affairs," straining ties between the two North African countries.

Tunisia's presidential runoff vote will be held on Sunday inside Tunisia and on December 19, 20 and 21 at voting stations overseas.

Two candidates are vying for highest office: the Nidaa Tounes party's Essebsi, who clinched some 1.9 million votes (39.4 percent) in the first-round vote; and Marzouki, who won roughly 1.1 million votes (33.4 percent).