While Tunisia is going through a period of acute turbulence, President Kaïs Saïed thanked two of his closest ministers. A reshuffle that took everyone by surprise. The new ministers, barely appointed, were sworn in immediately during the night.
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With our correspondent in Tunis, Amira Souilem
Tunisians woke up with new ministers. As is often the case with Kaïs Saïed, the most important announcements are made in the middle of the night. It was therefore on Saturday, around 11 p.m., that the presidency announced that the functions of Kamel Fekih and Malek Zahi, respectively ministers of the Interior and Social Affairs, had been terminated.
The two men were known to be close to Kaïs Saïed. The rare ones who still have their ear. Kamel Fekih, until now Minister of the Interior, was replaced by Khaled Nouri, until now governor of Ariana, in greater Tunis.
Tightening of the regime
A change that comes as the arrests of lawyers, civil society activists and journalists have been one after the other in Tunisia since the beginning of the month. That of Sonia Dahmanilawyer, arrested by hooded men in front of the France 24 camera caused scandal in Tunisia and internationally.
A tightening of the regime which pushed groups of citizens to demonstrate on Friday against what they call “the dictatorship “. The replacement of the Minister of the Interior, known to be close to Kaïs Saïed, remains difficult to read with accuracy at this stage.
His ouster coupled with the appointment of a Secretary of State for National Security does not suggest any relaxation of the regime in the weeks to come.
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