Tunisia President replaces 19 ministers in major cabinet reshuffle

Tunisian President, Kais Saied announced on Sunday a broad cabinet reshuffle of 19 ministers that included those for defence, foreign affairs and the economy, ahead of a presidential election on October 6.

The presidency said in a statement that Khaled Shili would be the new defence minister and Mohamed Ali Nafti the foreign affairs minister.

Saied earlier this month sacked Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani, replacing him with Kamel Maddouri, the social affairs minister.

The abrupt reshuffle replaced 19 ministers and three state secretaries, just days after Saied sacked the former prime minister ahead of presidential elections on October 6.

“This morning, August 25, 2024, the President of the Republic has decided to make a governmental change,” said the statement, without further explanation.

Saied, 66, was democratically elected in 2019 but orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021 and is now seeking another term in the upcoming elections.

He has referred to his candidacy as part of “a war of liberation and self-determination” aiming to “establish a new republic” while a number of his political opponents are currently in jail or being prosecuted.

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global watchdog, said Tunisian authorities “have prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates” for the October vote.

Major Cabinet Reshuffle in Tunisia as President Saied Replaces 19 Ministers

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has announced a significant cabinet reshuffle, replacing 19 ministers, including those responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and the economy. The changes were made just weeks before the presidential election scheduled for October 6.

The presidency’s statement announced Khaled Shili as the new defense minister and Mohamed Ali Nafti as the foreign affairs minister, but did not provide a reason for the reshuffle. “This morning, August 25, 2024, the President of the Republic has decided to make a governmental change,” the statement read.

President Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, has described his candidacy for another term as part of “a war of liberation and self-determination” aiming to “establish a new republic”. His consolidation of power and prosecution of political opponents have raised concerns.

Human Rights Watch reported that Tunisian authorities “have prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates” for the October vote. The cabinet reshuffle is seen as a significant development ahead of the presidential election.