Summary:

On 7 August 2024, Tunisian President Kais Saied removed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani from his position, replacing him with Kamel Madouri who had most recently been serving as the Minister of Social Affairs. 

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The unceremonious removal comes just over a year since former Prime Minister Najla Bouden was similarly replaced with Hachani. 

As has been typical of senior level changes, no official reason for the dismissal was provided by the President or his office. 

Kamel Madouri brings legal expertise to his new role with a background in international and community law with a focus on the European Union (EU) and EU relations with North Africa. He previously served as the head of CNAM, the national health insurance fund, and CNRPS, the national retirement and social security fund. 

Outlook: 

While the unceremonious dismissal of Hachani was consistent with other similar actions by President Saied and his administration, the timing in the lead-up to the October president elections raises questions as to the unity within President Saied’s administration.  

A senior-level firing less than two months from the election risks communicating a sense of instability to voters as well as to the international community in an environment in which President Saied is already widely criticized for silencing his critics through various legal means. 

While Hachani himself was not a particularly popular nor politically compelling figure, his dismissal could point to fracturing within the administration at a critical transition point for Tunisia as the controversial Kais Saied seeks re-election. 

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