Tunisia's first female prime minister sacked

Tunisia’s prime minister Najla Bouden has been sacked by Tunisia’s president. Najla Bouden was the first woman to hold that position in an Arab League nation.

News Center- Tunisian President Kais Saied has sacked Prime Minister Najla Bouden. A brief statement from the presidential office on Tuesday did not give reasons for the dismissal of Najla Bouden. Ahmed al-Hachani has been appointed as the new prime minister of the country.

“There are great challenges in order to protect our homeland, our state and civil peace,” Tunisian President Kais Saied told Ahmed al-Hechani after he took the constitutional oath.

Political tension in the country

The dismissal of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Tunisians Abroad, Othman Jerandi, in February 2023 had already set the stage for increased political tension in the country. Othman Jerandi was replaced by Nabil Ammar, as part of a mini-cabinet reshuffle initiated by President Kais Saied. Since February 2023, more than 20 people, including Rashid al-Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party, have been arrested in the country.

Najla Bouden made history in September 2021 when she was appointed as Tunisia’s first female Prime Minister after months of political deadlock.