Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has extended his condolences to the family of late Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who passed away at the age of 92 early on Thursday at a military hospital in Tunis.

In a statement released by the Egyptian presidency, President El-Sisi lauded the historic contribution of the late Tunisian leader in modernising the North African Arab country and ensuring its stability.

Egypt's Al-Azhar Islamic institute has also extended condolences to the family of the late president and the Tunisian people in a statement by its Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb.

Essebsi was the world's oldest sitting president. He was admitted to hospital on Wednesday.

In December 2014, he won the first regular presidential election following the Tunisian Revolution, becoming Tunisia's first freely elected president.

Essebsi was the founder of the 'Nidaa Tounes' political party, which won a plurality in the 2014 parliamentary election.

Previously he served as minister of foreign affairs from 1981 to 1986 and as prime minister from February 2011 to December 2011.