Tunisia’s president scapegoats minister after pilgrimage chaos

Tunisia’s president kais Saied sacked his religious affairs minister after the death of dozens of Tunisian pilgrims.

At least 49 Tunisians died in unspecified conditions during the Haj pilgrimage, triggering anger at the chaotic management of Tunisia’s official pilgrimage program.

As a sign of his unstable governance, Saied has sacked several members of his cabinet since he has consolidated his power-grab starting in 2019.

In 2019, he replaced his foreign minister and in 2021, he suspended parliament and fired his prime minister Hichem Mechichi.

More recently, in 2023, he fired his prime minister Najla Bouden and replaced her with Ahmed Hachani.

He also fired his finance and economy minister Samir Saied last August, against the backdrop of a worsening economic crisis.