On Wednesday, Najla Bouden Ramadhane was officially announced as Tunisia's first woman Prime Minister, by their President Kais Saied.

Saied instructed the new prime minister to name a new Cabinet as soon as possible, according to the statement given from President’s office.

"The President of the Republic Kais Saied charged Najla Bouden with forming a government as quickly as possible," said a statement from his office published on Facebook.

He repeatedly emphasised the “historic” nomination of a woman, calling it “an honour for Tunisia and a homage to Tunisian women”. Bouden will be Tunisia’s tenth prime minister.

Saied said the new government’s main mission would be to “put an end to the corruption and chaos that have spread throughout many state institutions”.

Since the 2011 uprising which overthrew long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, sparking the Arab Spring revolts. Tunisia has had no prime minister and has been in limbo after Saied froze the parliament and seized executive powers on July 25.

The move notably side-lined the Islamist party that dominated parliament, and critics denounced it as a coup that threatens Tunisia's young democracy. Saied said it was necessary to save the country from economic and social crisis.

Bouden who is the same age as Saied, 63 is a former director at PromESsE, a higher education reform project, and has held senior positions at Tunisia’s higher education ministry.

Originally from Kairouan, she is a French-educated geologist with a doctorate in geological engineering and is a lecturer at Tunisia’s national engineering school.

Image Courtesy: The Hindu