Tunisia Slated to Announce Cabinet Reshuffle

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

In an effort to break the political gridlock plaguing Tunisia’s interim government, the ruling Troika is slated to announce the results of  the cabinet reshuffle under discussion among the country’s National Constituent Assembly. Although it is unclear whether the new government structure will incorporate members outside of the current ruling coalition, Sami Tariki, a member of the governing  Ennahda party, added that “the situation calls for expanding the political base for the ruling coalition” and indicated that deliberations with parties outside the coalition are ongoing. Leaders from the opposition parties Wafa Movement and al-Joumhouri indicated the possibility of joining a national unity government under certain conditions, including addressing the exclusion of other opposition parties, unemployment, and corruption. Furthermore, Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice Samir Dilou recently submitted a draft law to the National Constituent Assembly to establish the National Council for Protection against Torture. Confirming abuse of detainees under state custody since the revolution, ministry spokesman Chakib Derouiche said the council will be empowered to make surprise prison visits, track human rights violations and report findings directly to the judiciary.

Meanwhile in Libya, the General National Congress (GNC) President Mohamed Magarief escaped an alleged assassination attempt while on a visit to Sebha in the south Sunday evening. Although unharmed, three of Magarief’s bodyguards were injured during three hours of clashes with unidentified assailants who fired shots at the president’s hotel. Finally, the GNC is attempting to reverse the deteriorating security situation by temporarily closing its borders with Niger, Chad, Sudan and Algeria, and appointing a military governor to stem the instability in the region.