Hichem Mechichi - The African Mirror

Jan

17

2021

Tunisian PM appoints 12 new ministers

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIAN Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has named 12 new ministers in a cabinet reshuffle he hopes will inject new blood into his government amid rising political tensions and an unprecedented economic crisis. Mechichi named Walid Dhabi as the new interior minister, having this month sacked Taoufik Charfeddine, who is close to President Kais Saied, a move underscoring tensions between the country's two most powerful leaders Saied and Mechichi are at odds over their respective powers and political alliances, jeopardising the stability required to push through much-needed reforms. Hedi Khairi was named health minister following criticism over the government's…

Jul

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia president designates new PM amid hopes of ending political crisis

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIAN President Kais Saied on Saturday designated the interior minister as the new prime minister to succeed Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned over allegations of a conflict of interest, the presidency said. New premier Hichem Mechichi pledged to respond to the social and economic demands that have spawned constant protests in the North African country. "I will work to form a government that meets the aspirations of all Tunisians and to respond to their legitimate demands," Mechichi said. Hichem Mechichi. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Mechichi, 46, an independent, now has a month to form a government capable of winning a…

Aug

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia PM-designate to form technocratic govt without parties

NEWS

TAREK AMARA TUNISIA's prime minister-designate said on Monday he would form a purely technocratic government following wrangling among political parties over the formation of the country's next administration. The decision by Hichem Mechichi will likely put him in confrontation with the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party, the largest political group in parliament, which announced it would oppose the formation of a non-political government. However, the proposal for a government of independent technocrats without political parties will win support from the powerful UGTT trade union and some other parties, including Tahya Tounes and Dustoury el Hor. Mechichi said that the government's focus…

Sep

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Three militants killed after fatal attack on policeman in Tunisia

NEWS

POLICE in Tunisia chased and shot dead three suspected Islamist militants after they attacked two police officers, killing one of them, in the coastal city of Sousse on Sunday, the authorities said. Five years ago an Islamic State militant shot dead 39 foreigners on a beach in Sousse, triggering an exodus of tourists and severely damaging its economy. Since then Tunisia has grown more effective in preventing and responding to attacks, foreign diplomats say, but sleeper cells still pose a real threat to the country, especially with the return of jihadists from Syria, Iraq and Libya. “Terrorists stabbed two policemen…

Oct

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia reports daily coronavirus record of 1308 cases

COVID-19

TUNISIA recorded 1,308 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the health ministry has said, a record since the start of the pandemic, prompting the government to impose a night curfew in two governorates. The total number of cases has jumped to around 20,000 compared with roughly 1,000 cases before the country's borders were opened on June 27. The total number of deaths has reached 271, the Health Ministry said. Hichem Mechichi, Tunisia's Prime Minister-designate. The authorities on Thursday imposed a night curfew in Sousse and Monastir, two coastal governorates, to curb the increase in infections, amid fears that hospitals will…

Oct

05

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia to ban gatherings, cut public-sector work hours due to pandemic

COVID-19

TUNISIAN authorities will ban all gatherings and reduce working hours for employees in the public sector in order to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has announced. The decision was taken amid strong fears that hospitals in the North African nation will be unable to cope with a high number of patients because of the shortage of intensive-care beds. The total number of coronavirus cases has jumped to more than 20,000 compared with roughly 1,000 cases before the country's borders were reopened on June 27. In a speech announcing the latest measures to combat the…

Oct

14

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisian protesters clash with police after man dies in bulldozed kiosk

NEWS

HUNDREDS of stone-throwing protesters clashed with police in a provincial Tunisian town after authorities bulldozed an unlicensed cigarette kiosk, killing its owner sleeping inside, witnesses said. Street protests are frequent in Tunisia, where a popular uprising toppled autocratic rule nearly a decade ago and ushered in democracy but little economic progress, with living standards for many still low, unemployment high and corruption rife. In the town of Sheitla, the site of an ancient Roman city in Tunisia's hilly, impoverished interior, residents blocked roads with burning tyres and threw stones at police, who chased, witnesses said. Soldiers were then deployed to…

Nov

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia prime minister says coronavirus deaths may reach 7,000

COVID-19

Hichem Mechichi TUNISIAN Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi says the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the country may reach 6,000-7,000, describing the health situation as "very dangerous". Coronavirus cases have been rising quickly in Tunisia, which had managed to contain the virus earlier this year, and have now reached 70,000 cases and 1,900 deaths in a country of 11.5 million. Medical sources told Reuters intensive care units in most state hospitals had reached maximum capacity. The government imposed a night curfew this month and banned travel between cities to slow a second wave of the pandemic. - Thomson Reuters…

Oct

22

2020

By The African Mirror

Intensive care units in Tunisian state hospitals reach 80% of capacity

COVID-19

BEDS in intensive care units (ICU) in Tunisian public hospitals are about 80% full as COVID-19 cases surge, the health minister has said, calling the situation "critical". Tunisia has just 181 ICU beds, of which 145 are now being used by patients, Fouzi Mehdi told reporters. Coronavirus cases have been rising fast in Tunisia, which had managed to contain the virus earlier this year, and have now reached 45,000 cases and 740 deaths. The government imposed a curfew this month in the capital to slow a second wave of the pandemic. But Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said he will not…

Oct

30

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia bans internal travel to contain pandemic

COVID-19

TUNISIA has banned travel between the country's regions, suspended schools and public gatherings and extended a curfew, as it tried to contain a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases with hospitals nearly full. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has said Tunisia cannot afford a second lockdown with the government already fighting the central bank over a projected deficit double what it had originally foreseen. However, after successfully containing the coronavirus in the spring and summer, Tunisia is now experiencing a very rapid spread of the disease with more than 55,000 cases and intensive care units full in some…