Tunisia: More Calls to Dismiss Bouden’s Gov’t

A demonstration by Tunisians in the capital against the high cost of living (EPA)
A demonstration by Tunisians in the capital against the high cost of living (EPA)
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Tunisia: More Calls to Dismiss Bouden’s Gov’t

A demonstration by Tunisians in the capital against the high cost of living (EPA)
A demonstration by Tunisians in the capital against the high cost of living (EPA)

The hike in prices and the scarcity of some food items in the Tunisian markets have sparked criticism against the government. including calls for changing the cabinet’s formation with keeping Najla Bouden as the prime minister. However, some calls endorsed an overall change including the premiership.

Critics held Bouden’s government responsible for the failure of the parliamentary election process.

Major political parties made this criticism, whether supporters of the political path launched by Tunisian President Kais Saied in the summer of 2021, or opposers of the ruling regime.

Abdul Razzaq Al-Khalouli, the spokesperson of the 25 July movement, called on the president to dismiss Bouden and carry out an immediate government change.

Al-Khalouli also urged changing all the governors after Bouden's government failed in managing the country’s affairs and finding solutions to the growing social and economic crises.

Some observers ruled out any changes to the current government, considering that President Saied would not carry out any amendments before the whole election process is completed.

Zuhair al-Maghzawi, secretary-general of the People's Movement, held the current government accountable for the ongoing confusion and failure to manage issues that relate to the Tunisians’ daily lives.



France Expels 12 Algerian Officials in Tit-for-Tat Move amid Diplomatic Tensions

Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
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France Expels 12 Algerian Officials in Tit-for-Tat Move amid Diplomatic Tensions

Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)

France said Tuesday it was expelling 12 Algerian diplomatic officials a day after Algeria announced the expulsion of the same number of French officials in escalating tensions between the two countries.

Algeria said Monday that its expulsion of 12 French officials was over the arrest of an Algerian consular official by French authorities in a kidnapping case, but relations between the two sides have been deteriorating since last summer. That's when France shifted its position to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara — a disputed territory claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front, which receives support from Algeria.

Tensions further peaked in November after Algeria arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is an outspoken critic of the Algerian regime. He has since been sentenced to five years in prison — a verdict he subsequently appealed.

In addition to what French officials called the "symmetrically" calibrated expulsion of 12 Algerian officials, France's ambassador to Algiers also was being recalled home for consultations, a statement from the French presidential palace said Tuesday.

It said Algerian authorities were responsible for "a brutal deterioration in our bilateral relations."

French counterterrorism prosecutors said three Algerian nationals in total were arrested last week and handed preliminary charges of "kidnapping or arbitrary detention … in connection with a terrorist undertaking."

The group is allegedly involved in the April 2024 kidnapping of an Algerian influencer, Amir Boukhors, or Amir DZ, a known critic of the Algerian government with 1.1 million followers on TikTok.

The latest surge in acrimony followed a brief easing of tensions about two weeks ago when French President Emmanuel Macron called Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune. French officials said they had agreed to revive bilateral relations.