Tunisia - August 2023

On 1 August, President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Najla Bouden and appointed Ahmed Hachani as her replacement. Hachani, who previously served as the human resources director at Tunisia's central bank, steps into his role amid an escalating economic and social crisis in the country.

Saied has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with government officials and the deteriorating public services, including frequent water and electricity disruptions. Her dismissal, for which no official reason was given, coincided with rising shortages, especially of state-subsidised bread. Recent escalations in these shortages have raised concerns of potential civil unrest similar to the deadly bread riots in 1984. President Saied emphasized the urgent need to address these challenges to ‘safeguard the country, its institutions, and societal peace’.

Sources: Tunis Afrique Presse (1), Al Jazeera, Le Monde, North Africa Journal, Tunis Afrique Presse (2), Gulf Times, Middle East Monitor