Tunisia: President appoints new PM Zeneri to replace Maddouri in shock move
- Asmau Kontagora
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 17
INFORMATION
On the evening of 20 March 2025, President Kais Saied of Tunisia dismissed Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri without providing a reason.
Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, the Minister of Equipment and Housing, was appointed as the new Prime Minister.
Zaafrani Zenzri is said to be the second woman to lead the government, following Najla Bouden, who served from October 2021 to August 2023.
Maddouri, who took office in August 2024, had been Prime Minister for just six months.
ASSESSMENT
Maddouri is the fourth minister to be removed since Saied dissolved the government in 2021 and took control of the judiciary.
Media report suggests the dismissal may relate to disagreements over economic and financial matters.
Earlier this week, Maddouri reportedly sought financial support from the European Union, which may not have aligned with Saied's vision for a self-reliant Tunisia.
Saied has recently expressed disappointment in government performance. He has repeatedly accused ministers of not meeting public expectations.
Furthermore, the dismissal comes amid political repression (imprisonment of opposition leaders, journalists, businessmen), economic challenges, and issues related to migration and drug trafficking.
Tunisia has faced criticism over its treatment of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, including human rights violations and discrimination.
Since Saied's re-election in 2024, the country has experienced slow growth at 1.4% over the past year, rising unemployment at 16%, and public debt exceeding 80% of Tunisia’s GDP, up from 67% before he assumed office back in 2019.
The nation’s financial difficulties have led to shortages of basic commodities like sugar, rice, and coffee.
In 2023, Saied rejected a US$2 billion bail out from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for some tough economic reforms, fearing it would increase poverty.
Following a National Security Council meeting on the evening of 20 March 2025, Saied stated that "criminal gangs are operating in many public facilities" and called for accountability for all officials.
He called for strict law enforcement and a zero-tolerance policy on impunity.
In a meeting with the new head of government, Zaafrani Zenzri, Saied emphasised the need for better government coordination and to overcome obstacles for the benefit of the Tunisian people.
Zaafrani Zenzri, who is not affiliated with any political party, brings a wealth of experience in administration and infrastructure.
Her appointment reflects Saied's strategy of appointing qualified and politically neutral individuals to manage the affairs of the country.
Zaafrani Zenzri will face the challenge of addressing the country’s worsening financial situation and socio-economic issues.
It is worthy to note that in February 2025, Saied dismissed Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri and appointed judge Michkat Khaldi in his place, without providing a reason for the change. Khaldi previously led the national commission responsible for recovering embezzled funds from before 2011.
Saied's high turnover government highlights his ongoing struggle to effectively govern the country.
FORECAST
Despite its commitment to self-reliance, Tunisia's economic situation has not improved, and without external financial support, the country may continue to face slow growth.
In the coming weeks, Zenzri is expected to announce fresh measures to tackle urgent financial and economic issues, but significant changes will take time to implement.
Additionally, as Saied evaluates the government's performance, he may consider further reshuffles to ensure effective leadership in the coming months.
