Summary:

On the evening of 25 May 2024, President Kais Saied announced changes to several ministerial positions, including the replacement of Minster of the Interior Kamel Feki. 

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Feki, who held the position since early 2023, was replaced by Khaled Nouri, the former governor of Ariana. Also, the Minister of Social Affairs Malek Zahi was replaced by Kamel Madouri, who has served in other senior leadership positions within the government. 

The announcement of the replacements also included the creation of a new position: the Secretary of State. The position will be responsible for national security affairs under the Ministry of the Interior and will be filled by Sofiene ben Sadok. Ben Sadok was most recently a senior official at the Ministry of Communication Technologies. 

The changes in senior positions were announced late in the evening on the evening of Saturday, 25 May.

Outlook: 

A cabinet reshuffle could point to growing dissension regarding the administration’s future, particularly in the pre-election period.  

The recent flurry of arrests of media commentators and civil society activists could be leading to disagreement amongst senior officials in President Saied’s cabinet, including some who, perhaps, disagree with the current trajectory of the administration. 

While the two officials being replaced were known to have had unique access to the President and the ability to speak into his policy decisions, recent events may have shifted this dynamic, prompting the President to seek fresh and, perhaps, more cooperative voices. 

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