RESHUFFLE OF GOVERNORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001776

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG (MHARRIS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL TS
SUBJECT: RESHUFFLE OF GOVERNORS

REF: TUNIS 1402

Classified By: Ambassador William Hudson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) In a routine reshuffle announced in all daily
newspapers on July 10, six governors moved from one
governorate to another, two were appointed for the first
time, and one, Ali Ksiki, was "called to other (unspecified)
duties." Governorship changes were as follows:

Name Former Region Current

Ali Ksiki Sfax None
Kamel Somai Le Kef Sfax
Taieb Ragoubi Kebili Sousse*
Faiez Ayed Ariana Ben Arous
Adbeljalil Zaddam Ben Arous Ariana
Brahim Briki Gabes Kebili
Kamel Labbassi Mahdia Le Kef
Taieb Aloui None Mahdia
Abdelkrim Mesbah None Gabes

NOTE: The previous Governor of Sousse, Abderrahman Limam, was
appointed Director General of the National Guard on June 5,
after former Director General of the National Guard,
Abdessatar Bennour replaced Mohamed Ali Ganzoui as MOI
Secretary of State for National Security (reftel). END NOTE.

SIPDIS



2. (C) Comment: There are no surprises in the recent shift in
governors, as President Ben Ali often changes high level
positions in the summer months. (This is the 60th
presidential reshuffle of government positions since Ben Ali
took office in 1987). First-time governors Aloui and Mesbah
have long histories of ruling RCD party support and both
previously served as career officials in the Interior
Ministry, most recently as Secretary Generals of
Governorates. Although GOT decision-making is highly
centralized, governors are viewed as the President's local
representatives, and thus do wield some regional power. The
positions, especially those in key areas such as Sousse and
Sfax, are often seen as important political stepping stones.
End Comment.
HUDSON