Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and appointed Social Affairs Minister Kamel Madjoul as his replacement, according to a statement from the Tunisian presidency late on Wednesday.
Hachani, who had been named prime minister in August last year, addressed the nation in a video message just hours before his dismissal, asserting that the government had made significant progress on various issues despite global challenges, including securing the country’s food and energy needs.
The dismissal occurs amidst widespread public discontent over ongoing water and electricity shortages in many parts of Tunisia. While the government attributes the water crisis to a severe and continuous drought necessitating a quota system for water distribution, President Saied has called the situation a “conspiracy ahead of presidential election” and insists that the dams are adequately full.
The agriculture ministry, however, reports that the dam levels are critically low, having reached only 25 percent of their capacity.
In October, Saied announced his candidacy for the presidential elections, facing widespread criticism from opposition parties, human rights groups, and international observers who accuse him of restricting and intimidating competitors to clear the path for his re-election bid.
