The same year, he organized a state visit, the first of a sovereign Tunisian abroad: Ahmed I first went to Paris where he obtained a resounding diplomatic success that began the process of weakening Ottoman tutelage over Tunisia.
[5] His dedication to the cause of the political and social renewal of Tunisia helped also earned him the sympathy of France, which granted him the Legion d’Honneur,[7] and of the Catholic Church, which made him a member of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.
During his reign, Raffo contributed to the adoption of the Fundamental Pact of 1857 but, on the death of the sovereign in 1859, he was driven from power by the rising star of Tunisian politics, the former slave of Greek origin, Mustapha Khaznadar, appointed Grand Vizier by Sadok Bey.
Raffo takes advantage of his political activities to foster links with European businessmen and financiers (particularly French and Genoese) who promoted foreign economic and commercial penetration of Tunisia and who often became his business partners.
He built and renovated several places of worship, supported the charitable work of the Capuchin fathers, particularly appreciated by Ahmed bey, and helped philanthropic initiatives in Europe, in particular in his region of origin, Liguria.