Tunisian President Sacks 2 Consuls, Orders Audits

Tunisia's President Kais Saied gives a speech at the government's swearing-in ceremony at the Carthage Palace outside the capital Tunis, Tunisia February 27, 2020. Fethi Belaid/Pool via REUTERS
Tunisia's President Kais Saied gives a speech at the government's swearing-in ceremony at the Carthage Palace outside the capital Tunis, Tunisia February 27, 2020. Fethi Belaid/Pool via REUTERS
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Tunisian President Sacks 2 Consuls, Orders Audits

Tunisia's President Kais Saied gives a speech at the government's swearing-in ceremony at the Carthage Palace outside the capital Tunis, Tunisia February 27, 2020. Fethi Belaid/Pool via REUTERS
Tunisia's President Kais Saied gives a speech at the government's swearing-in ceremony at the Carthage Palace outside the capital Tunis, Tunisia February 27, 2020. Fethi Belaid/Pool via REUTERS

The Tunisian presidency on Sunday dismissed the country's consuls in Paris and Milan and ordered financial audits at the European missions.

President Kais Saied "instructed the foreign ministry to proceed with an in-depth financial and administrative check" at the two consulates, an official statement published on Facebook said.

Saied will replace Paris consul general Taher Arbaoui with Ridha Gharsallaoui, who is close to the head of state and had been serving as interior minister, AFP reported.

A former national security adviser to the presidency, Gharsallaoui was named minister on July 29, taking over from former premier Hichem Mechichi, who held the portfolio.

Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and assumed exceptional powers on July 25, citing an "imminent threat" to the country.

On September 22, he suspended parts of the constitution and installed rule by decree, maintaining full control of the judiciary as well as powers to sack ministers and issue laws.

The presidency has said that 10 ambassadors, including to Berlin, Ankara, Beijing and Doha, and six consuls are completing their missions, a move formalizing the end of their terms in August.



Lebanon Urges US Military to Put Pressure on Israel to Withdraw

This handout picture released by the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) posing for a picture with outgoing US chairman of ceasefire monitoring committee MG Jasper Jeffers (L) and his successor, newly appointed US MG Michael Leeney (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) posing for a picture with outgoing US chairman of ceasefire monitoring committee MG Jasper Jeffers (L) and his successor, newly appointed US MG Michael Leeney (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
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Lebanon Urges US Military to Put Pressure on Israel to Withdraw

This handout picture released by the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) posing for a picture with outgoing US chairman of ceasefire monitoring committee MG Jasper Jeffers (L) and his successor, newly appointed US MG Michael Leeney (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (C) posing for a picture with outgoing US chairman of ceasefire monitoring committee MG Jasper Jeffers (L) and his successor, newly appointed US MG Michael Leeney (R) at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who met with a US military delegation Wednesday, urged it to pressure Israel to withdraw from areas it still controls in the country and to release Lebanese prisoners.

The delegation was headed by US Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the Co-Chairman of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism.

Aoun told the American delegation that the Lebanese army is carrying out its work along the border with Israel, where troops have been confiscating weapons and preventing armed presence.

A statement released by Aoun’s office said that Jeffers, who had held the post since before the Israel-Hezbollah war ended in late November, will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Michael J. Leeney. It added that Leeney also attended Wednesday’s meeting.