Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri, replacing him with Sara Zaafarani, amid a worsening economic crisis and rising political tensions. Zaafarani, the Minister of Equipment and Housing since 2021, is Tunisia’s third prime minister in less than two years, underscoring growing instability.
The announcement came late Thursday following weeks of public criticism by Saied directed at top government officials. In a National Security Council meeting on Friday, the president accused the government of being infiltrated by “criminal gangs” and blamed officials for failing to meet the public’s needs.
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Tunisia is struggling with sluggish economic growth, rising public debt, and shortages of basic commodities such as sugar and rice. Public dissatisfaction over deteriorating services has only intensified the pressure on the government.
Additionally, Tunisia faces increasing international scrutiny over its handling of a migration crisis, as thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa remain stranded in the country, hoping to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Clashes between locals and migrants have escalated, raising concerns about the government’s response to the situation.
