Tunisian President carries out a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle

Tunisian President Kais Saied announced on Sunday a broad cabinet reshuffle of 19 ministers that included those for defence, foreign affairs and the economy, ahead of a presidential election on 7 October.

The presidency said in a statement that Khaled Shili would be the new defence minister and Mohamed Ali Nafti the foreign affairs minister.

Saied earlier this month sacked Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani, replacing him with Kamel Maddouri, the social affairs minister.

The ministers of finance, justice, and the interior kept their positions.

The cabinet shuffle comes amid financial crisis and widespread discontent over recurring water and electricity outages in many parts of the country and a shortage of some goods and medicines, in a move likely aimed at injecting new blood and attracting voters.

Tunisian opposition parties and human rights groups have accused the authorities of using “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation to exclude contenders from the electoral race and pave the way for the re-election of Saied.

The presidential election is scheduled for October 6, 2024, amid ongoing economic and political crises in Tunisia. The latest development was the dismissal of Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani by President Saied on August 8, followed by the appointment of Social Affairs Minister Kamel Madouri as the new Prime Minister.

However, although he is seeking office, some of his political opponents and detractors are now imprisoned or facing prosecution.

Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Tunisian authorities “have prosecuted, convicted, or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates” for the October election.