“Tunisian President Saied Dismisses Prime Minister Amid Water Crisis; Appoints New PM”

Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and appointed Social Affairs Minister Kamel Maddouri as his replacement, according to an announcement by the Tunisian presidency. Hachani had only assumed the role of prime minister in August 2023. Just hours before his dismissal, Hachani stated in a video message that the government had made progress on several issues, including securing the nation’s food and energy needs despite global challenges.

The dismissal comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with recurring water and electricity outages across many regions of Tunisia. While the government attributes the water shortages to a severe and ongoing drought, which has led to the implementation of a water distribution quota system, President Saied has suggested that the water cuts are part of a conspiracy ahead of the upcoming presidential election, claiming that the dams are full. However, the agriculture ministry has reported that dam levels are critically low, at just 25 percent capacity.

President Saied recently announced his candidacy for the presidential elections set for October, amid widespread criticism from the opposition, human rights groups, and other candidates. They accuse Saied of restricting and intimidating his competitors in an effort to secure a second term.