The prime minister of Tunisia is dismissed during a national crisis by President Kais Saied

Amid a political upheaval and a water problem, President Kais Saied of Tunisia removed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and named Kamel Maddouri in his stead.

Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani was fired by Tunisian President Kais Saied, who named Social Affairs Minister Kamel Maddouri in his place. The news was made late on Wednesday by the president of Tunisia in a statement.

Just hours before he was fired, Hachani, the prime minister since August of last year, said in a video message that the administration had made great progress in tackling a number of issues, including meeting the country’s food and energy demands in spite of international hurdles.

Hachani is overthrown in the midst of public unrest stemming from ongoing power and water shortages that impact many areas of Tunisia. The administration says that these problems are the result of a protracted drought, which makes quota systems for water distribution necessary.

But in contrast to the agricultural ministry’s warning that dam levels have severely plummeted to 25 percent, President Saied has controversially said that the water restrictions are part of a planned scheme that was orchestrated before of the presidential election.

President Saied recently declared his candidacy for the October presidential elections, further escalating the political unrest. Opposition parties, human rights organizations, and other contenders have sharply criticized this move, claiming he is employing coercive measures to stifle competition and pave the way for a second term.

The events signal a moment of unrest for Tunisia, which is dealing with acute resource shortages in addition to political turmoil. As Tunisians look to Kamel Maddouri’s selection as prime minister to guide them through these urgent issues, it will be keenly observed.