Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri less than a year after his appointment, naming Sara Zaafarani as his successor amid mounting economic challenges and an escalating migrant crisis.
Zaafarani, an engineer who has served as minister of equipment and housing since 2021, becomes Tunisia’s third prime minister in under two years. Saied, who recently sacked Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri, has been critical of his ministers, stating they have failed to meet public expectations.
Tunisia’s economy continues to struggle, with growth stagnating at 1.4% and severe shortages of essential goods like sugar, rice, and coffee. Meanwhile, the country faces international criticism over its handling of a migrant influx, as thousands of sub-Saharan Africans remain stranded in forests after being prevented from crossing to Europe.
Saied, who seized expanded powers in 2021 by dissolving parliament and ruling by decree, has vowed to continue what he calls a “liberation battle,” while opposition groups label his actions a coup.
