Prime minister of Tunisia sacked by president

• Third PM in two years
• Tunisia’s economy falters
• Growing refugee crisis

The president of Tunisia, Kais Saied, has sacked his prime minister, Kamel Maddouri, less than a year after Maddouri’s appointment, as the country’s economy falters and it tries to cope with a worsening flood of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Saied named Sara Zaafarani, the minister of equipment and housing since 2021, as Maddouri’s replacement.

Zaafarani, who is an engineer, is the third prime minister in less than two years.

In recent months, Saied has sharply criticised the performance of ministers, saying many have not met the required standards and that the expectations of the Tunisian people are high. Last month, he sacked the finance minister, Sihem Boughdiri.

In a meeting broadcast on the presidency’s Facebook page, the president called on Zaafarani “to further coordinate government action and overcome obstacles to meet the expectations of the Tunisian people.”

Economic growth has not exceeded 1.4 percent in the past year, and the country’s public finances face a severe crisis that has led to shortages of key commodities including sugar, rice and coffee.

“We will continue the liberation battle until justice prevails for all citizens. We will continue to thwart all conspiracies”, Saied said in a speech at a National Security Council meeting on Friday.

Migrant crisis

The country is facing widespread criticism over an unprecedented migrant crisis, as thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants flock to Tunisia in the hope of being able to reach the Italian coast.

Thousands of refugees are living in tents in forests in Amra and Jbeniana after authorities prevented them from reaching Europe by sea.

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While the migrants frequently clash with residents, who want them deported from their area, local human rights groups accuse the authorities of racist rhetoric and incitement against migrants.

Saied seized extra powers in 2021 when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree before assuming authority over the judiciary. The opposition described the move as a coup.