In Tunisia, Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi has been sacked. A decision was taken by the Tunisian president the day after a diplomatic crisis involving Tunis, Algiers, and Paris.
It was through a short press release posted on social networks that Tunisians learned that Othman Jerandi, until now Minister of Foreign Affairs, was dismissed from his post by President Kaïs Saïed. He is replaced by Nabil Ammar, previously Tunisia’s ambassador to the European Union.
The announcement seems to have surprised the minister himself who, a few minutes earlier, was still sharing his latest official news on Twitter. ” My functions as Minister of Foreign Affairs ended after 3 years in a delicate circumstance, my only compass was the supreme interest of Tunisia “, reacted on Twitter Mr. Jerandi, adding: ” Wherever I am, I I will continue to serve this country. We are all passing through and Tunisia remains the witness of those who loved it and who were faithful to it ”.
4th minister dismissed
This dismissal comes the day after a standoff between Tunis, Algiers, and Paris around the case of Amira Bouraoui. This opponent of the Algerian regime of Algerian and French nationality had taken refuge in Tunisia, from where she wanted to fly to France. The Algerians urged the Tunisians to send her back but the French authorities managed to get her to leave Tunisian territory for France at the last minute.
While Tunisia has made a remarkable rapprochement with Algiers in recent weeks, this diplomatic incident has somewhat clouded relations with the Algerian big brother. A hiccup which Tunisia, which is going through an acute economic crisis and relies on the support of its neighbor, would have gone well.
And beyond the geopolitical tensions, this dismissal also comes in the context of the internal political crisis in Tunisia. Othman Jerandi is the 4th minister dismissed by Kaïs Saïed in a month.
