Tunisia dismisses energy minister facing corruption probe

02 September 2018
Khaled Kaddour has been removed less than a year after his appointment in September 2017

Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed sacked his energy minister who is facing a corruption probe, his office said on 31 August. A statement also announced a series of other sackings.

Khaled Kaddour, a former oil executive who was also responsible for mining, was dismissed less than a year after his appointment in September 2017.

The 60 year old's tenure has been marred by allegations of corruption, with Kaddour appearing before a judge last November over allegations of "administrative and financial corruption" within the ministry.

Legal proceedings are still underway and the prime minister's office did not give a reason for Kaddour's dismissal.

Hachem Hmidi, secretary of state at the Energy Ministry, was also sacked along with the director generals of judicial affairs and fuel.

The CEO of the state-owned Tunisian National Oil Company (ETAP) was also removed from his post.

Announcing a broad overhaul of the energy and mines ministry, the prime minister's office said there would be an investigation into the workings of the department.

A commission of experts will be formed to restructure the ministry, which will now be attached to the Industry Ministry, Chahed's office said in the statement.

The shake-up is the latest move in the Tunisian prime minister's anti-corruption drive, which has caught up numerous senior officials and businessmen in the North African country since it was announced in May 2017.

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