Tunisian President Kais Saied changed several ministers on Sunday without explanation, including those in charge of foreign affairs and defense, according to a statement posted on Facebook.
The abrupt change replaced 19 ministers and three state secretaries, coming just days after Saied fired the former prime minister ahead of the presidential election on October 6.
“This morning, August 25, 2024, the President of the Republic has decided to make a governmental change,” said the statement, without further explanation.
Saied, 66, was democratically elected in 2019, but organized a massive power grab in 2021 and is now running for another term in the forthcoming elections.
He has described his candidacy as part of “a war of liberation and self-determination” aimed at “establishing a new republic,” despite the fact that a number of his political opponents are now imprisoned or facing prosecution.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global watchdog, reported that Tunisian authorities “have prosecuted, convicted, or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates” for the October election.