Tunisian President Kais Saied announced a broad cabinet reshuffle of 19 ministers on Sunday, including key positions in defense, foreign affairs, and economy. The changes come ahead of the presidential election on October 6.
Khaled Shili was named the new defense minister, and Mohamed Ali Nafti took over as foreign affairs minister, according to a presidential statement, Reuters reported.
Saied had replaced earlier in August Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani with Kamel Maddouri, the social affairs minister. Amid the reshuffle, the ministers of finance, justice, and the interior retained their posts.
The change follows growing public dissatisfaction and frustration with recurring water and electricity outages and shortages of goods and medicine. In response, the government has attributed the shortages to a severe drought which resulted in the country’s current water rationing system.
Meanwhile, Saied has criticized the situation, suggesting that water cuts are a “politically motivated conspiracy” ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, despite official reports indicating that reservoirs are critically low at just 25% capacity.
The Tunisian president, who announced his candidacy for the presidential elections in October, faces widespread criticism from opposition groups, human rights organizations, and political rivals. His critics accuse him of restricting and intimidating competitors in an attempt to secure a second term.
The move is seen as an attempt to inject new energy into the government and attract voters as Saied seeks re-election.
In 2021, Saied consolidated power by shutting down the elected parliament, facing criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups for allegedly using “arbitrary restrictions” to exclude electoral contenders.