Tunisian president sacks PM amid economic turmoil and migrant crisis

Sara Zaafarani becomes Tunisia’s third prime minister in two years amid rising public discontent.

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Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri, less than a year after his appointment, as the North African nation grapples with a deepening economic crisis and mounting tensions over migration.

Maddouri has been replaced by Sara Zaafarani, the country’s Minister of Equipment and Housing since 2021. A trained engineer, Zaafarani now becomes Tunisia’s third prime minister in under two years, reflecting growing political volatility under Saied’s leadership.

The decision was announced late Thursday and followed weeks of harsh public criticism from President Saied directed at various ministers. In a televised address during a National Security Council meeting on Friday, Saied accused officials of failing to meet public expectations and described government institutions as infiltrated by “criminal gangs.”

“Criminal gangs are active in many public facilities. It is time to put an end to them and hold every official accountable, regardless of their position and the nature of their negligence or complicity,” Saied stated.

His comments come as Tunisia continues to suffer from stagnant economic growth, with GDP expanding by just 1.4% over the past year. The government is also struggling to manage public debt, chronic commodity shortages—including of sugar, rice, and coffee—and widespread dissatisfaction over deteriorating public services such as healthcare, transport, and utilities.

In February, Saied also sacked Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri, another sign of his mounting frustration with the government's handling of the economic crisis.

In a meeting with Zaafarani broadcast on the presidency's official Facebook page, Saied called for improved coordination within the government, urging the new prime minister “to overcome obstacles to meet the expectations of the Tunisian people.”

Meanwhile, Tunisia is also facing growing international criticism over its handling of a worsening migration crisis. Thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa have arrived in Tunisia, using it as a transit point in hopes of crossing the Mediterranean to Europe. Many are now stranded in makeshift camps in southern towns such as Amra and Jbeniana, after being blocked by authorities.

Clashes between migrants and local residents have become increasingly frequent, with calls for deportations intensifying. At the same time, local human rights groups have condemned the government’s rhetoric, accusing officials of racist incitement and scapegoating.

President Saied, who assumed sweeping powers in 2021 by dissolving the elected parliament and ruling by decree, said on Friday that he remains committed to fighting corruption and “liberating” Tunisia.

“We will continue the liberation battle until justice prevails for all citizens... We will continue to thwart all conspiracies,” he declared.

Opposition groups and critics have described Saied’s power grab as a coup, warning that democratic institutions in Tunisia—the birthplace of the Arab Spring—are being steadily dismantled.