Tunisia is undergoing another significant political transition as President Kais Saied has replaced Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri with Sarra Zaafrani Zanzri, marking the fourth leadership change in just five years. The announcement came unexpectedly following a meeting of the national security council, lifting the curtain on a period of uncertainty surrounding the government’s direction. Maddouri, who had only been in office for seven months, was dismissed without any official explanation, a decision that continues Saied's pattern of making sudden changes without public justification.
Since Saied assumed office, approximately 98 managers of public companies and heads of state institutions have been dismissed, highlighting a broader trend within his administration. Opponents of the president argue that these dismissals reflect an increasingly authoritarian style of governance, while supporters express concerns about the inefficiency of the bureaucracy and the need for systemic reform.
With Tunisia facing a staggering public debt of around 80% of its GDP, Saied's administration is under pressure to address a high unemployment rate of 16%—which skyrockets to 40% for those under 25—and escalating political and social tensions, exacerbated by a rise in migration pressures.
The new Prime Minister, Sarra Zaafrani Zanzri, holds the historical distinction of being the second woman to occupy this position in Tunisia. As she steps into her role, she must tackle profound economic reforms aimed at boosting competitiveness and attracting foreign investment, while also improving public resource management to cut expenditures and increase effectiveness. Zaafrani faces the added challenge of containing Tunisia’s burgeoning trade deficit, which has tripled in the first two months of 2025 and reached -3.52 billion dinars (-1.06 billion euros), compared to -1.78 billion dinars (-539 million euros) in the same period of 2024.
Recent statistics reveal that Tunisia's exports fell to 10.169 billion dinars (3.078 billion euros) in early 2025, marking a decline of 4.4% year-on-year, while imports surged by 10.2% to 13.687 billion dinars (4.147 billion euros). This unfavorable trade balance is primarily driven by the energy sector, which shows a deficit of 1.84 billion dinars (557 million euros), slightly up from 1.82 billion dinars (551 million euros) during the same period last year. Additional contributor to the decline in export figures includes reduced sales in energy products, particularly olive oil, and a downturn in the mechanical, electrical, and textile sectors.
A key focus for Zaafrani will be to revive the state’s role in social matters, particularly in housing and support for entrepreneurship and SMEs, as maintaining social peace becomes ever more pressing. The past month alone recorded 427 protests, a staggering 138.5% increase from the previous year’s 179, as citizens voiced grievances over professional status, job rights, and deteriorating public services, including water, transport, and education.
These demonstrations have primarily unfolded in Tunis, which has recorded the highest number of protests (138), followed by Tataouine (40), with the remaining protests distributed among other cities such as Manouba and Kairouan. In contrast, Kébili and Zaghouan only reported five protests each.
The dismissal of Kamel Maddouri is expected to have significant implications for the government's economic policy at a time when Tunisia is grappling with a severe financial crisis and stalled negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a $1.9 billion loan. Zanzri's role as the newly appointed Prime Minister not only places her in a pivotal position to navigate out of the crisis but also emphasizes the need to enhance women's political participation in Tunisia and across the Arab world.
During her first cabinet meeting, Zanzri expressed her gratitude for the trust placed in her by President Saied. She underscored the importance of national responsibility at a critical juncture where efforts are necessary to serve Tunisia effectively. “My primary aim is to enhance our readiness to meet challenges, accelerate legislative work, implement economic reforms, and improve public service delivery, particularly in response to citizens’ demands for better living conditions and protection for vulnerable groups,” she stated.
She further emphasized the need for harmony within the government, stating that the Tunisian executive must align with the overarching state policies laid down by Saied and adhere to the values and principles of the Constitution.
Zaafrani called for proactive measures to implement the budget law for 2025, underscoring the necessity to ensure integration between the development vision and public policy to achieve successful structural transformation of Tunisia's economy. She urged ministers and officials at all levels to work diligently and commit to implementing Tunisia's new path forward.
Finally, Zaafrani pledged to respond to the aspirations of the Tunisian people while maintaining their dignity through innovative approaches and methods designed to break from the past and expand opportunities for all citizens, while ensuring national sovereignty remains intact. As Tunisia embarks on this new chapter of leadership, expectations are high for Zanzri to effectively maneuver through these turbulent times and lead the nation toward stability and progress.
