KUWAIT FORMS NEW CABINET AFTER DISSOLUTION OVER ROW

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Amir urges action on development – Three women given portfolios

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 17: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah signed a decree Tuesday approving a new government chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

The new government was formed after the previous Cabinet was dissolved amid a dispute among powerful members of the ruling family, the Kuwait News Agency said Tuesday. The new Cabinet includes three women.

His Highness the Amir, addressing the new ministers after taking oath before him, urged them to double efforts to accelerate process of development and construction in order to meet aspirations of citizens.

He urged the ministers to abide by the Constitution and law as well as protect public funds, “which will only materialize through hard work and teamwork, constructive cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities’’.

“You should address problems of citizens in ministries and government departments, and facilitate administrative measures within the laws and regulations,” said His Highness the Amir.

His Highness the Amir also thanked His Highness Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for his services while chairing the government.

The oath ceremony was attended by Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, his deputy Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan Undersecretary and Director of His Highness the Amir’s office Ahmad Al-Fahad, Cabinet’s Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Roudhan, Director of Amiri Protocols Sheikh Khaled Abdullah Al-Sabah and Director of His Highness the Prime Minister’s office Ahmad Al-Rahmani.

His Highness the Premier Sabah Al-Khaled said Tuesday that the responsibility entrusted in him by His Highness the Amir requires him to shoulder it with utmost effort to serve the homeland.
Afterwards, His Highness the Premier presented the new formation of the State of Kuwait Cabinet as follows:

1. Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
2. Anas Khaled Nasser Al-Saleh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.
3. Khaled Nasser Al-Roudhan, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
4. Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
5. Dr Basel Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of Health.
6. Dr Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
7. Dr Khaled Ali Al-Fadhel, Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water.
8. Mariam Aqeel Al-Aqeel, Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of State for Economic Affairs.
9. Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
10. Dr Rana Abdullah Al-Fares, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Housing Affairs.
11. Dr Saud Hilal Al-Harbi, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education.
12. Dr Ghadeer Mohammad Aseeri, Minister of Social Affairs.
13. Mubarak Salem Al-Harees, Minister of State for Services’ Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs. 14. Waleed Khalifa Al-Jassem, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs.

Formation
The National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- Ghanim, after receiving the official announcement concerning the formation of the new State Cabinet, disclosed that he will soon send out invitations for the parliamentary session on Dec 24, during which the new ministers are expected to take their constitutional oath, followed by discussion of the items on the agenda.

He wished His Highness the Prime Minster the best with his new Cabinet, affirming that the Parliament will be in full cooperation in accordance with Article 50 of the State Constitution, which stipulates that, in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, the system of government shall be established on the basis of separation and cooperation of powers.

No authority shall be allowed to waive all or part of its responsibilities and jurisdiction as prescribed in the Constitution”. Al-Ghanim expressed high hopes for the Prime Minister’s success in maneuvering the political arena and overcoming the upcoming challenges, stressing that his success is the success of the Kuwaiti people.

Following the announcement of the new government formation, a number of lawmakers released statements. MP Safa’a Al-Hashem wished the best for the new government, saying, “Personally, I am happy about the inclusion of three efficient and capable women as ministers in the new Cabinet.” She affirmed that she is looking forward to a fruitful cooperation that will be in favor of the interest of Kuwait. MP Al-Humaidhi Al-Subai’e said the less number of members in the new government (15 instead of 16) implies that some names were chosen in a hurry.

He indicated that he does not believe they will have to wait long for the government to prove its commitment to the reformative course. Referring to the appointment of Dr Ghadeer Mohammad Mahmoud Aseeri as the Minister of Social Affairs, MP Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi called upon His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to “correct the mistake” before taking the oath.

Profiles of new Kuwait’s Cabinet ministers

Decreed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the new Kuwaiti Cabinet makeup consists of a total 14 ministers, including seven new ones. The government is led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah:

Born in Kuwait in 1953, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled acquired a BA in political science from Kuwait University in 1977. He served as Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and represented it at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 1995 to 1998. In 2011, he was appointed as Foreign Minister, and later as Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in February 2012. In January 2014, an Amiri decree ordered the appointment of Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In December 2016, he was re-assigned as Foreign Minister, and became Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in December 2017.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah:

Born in 1969, Sheikh Ahmad acquired a BA in support media (political science) From the US University of Kansas and a diploma in military science from Ali Al-Sabah Military Academy. He held several posts, including Undersecretary of the Defense Ministry in July 2017, Chairman and Director-General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports in 2014 and member of the authority’s board of directors in 2006. He was picked chief of the Defense Ministry’s purchase department and assistant undersecretary of the ministry for foreign supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al- Saleh:

He was born in 1972 and acquired a BBA from Portland University in the US in 1997. He held the portfolio of Commerce and Industry in February in 2012, then July 2012 and December 2012, in addition to the portfolio of state for housing affairs. He became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in August 2013 and December 2016. He was also chosen Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in December 2017. He was a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry between 2006 and 2010.

Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan:

He was born in 1978. He acquired a BBA from Kuwait University. He was became Minister of Commerce and Industry and Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs between November 2016 and October 2017.

Minister of Information and Minister for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri:

He was born in 1974. He obtained a BA in information systems and master’s degree in international relations. He became Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs in December 2016, Minister of Information in December 2017 and then Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs in March 2018. He was elected member of parliament in 2013, 2014 and then 2016.

Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah:

Born in 1974, he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, in 1999. He acquired a doctorate and Canadian board of Otolaryngology from the Canadian McGill University in 2006. He was picked as Minister of Health in December 2017.

Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Fahad Al-Afasi:

He was born in 1971. He obtained a BA in law from Cairo University in 1994 and a PhD in law from the Lebanese University in 2006. He was chosen Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in December 2017 and Minister of Justice and State for National Assembly Affairs in December 2018.

Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel:

Born in 1973, Al-Fadhel acquired a doctorate of mathematical modeling of chemical systems from the US Lehigh University in 2005. He became minister of oil in December 2017. In the December 2018 shakeup, he retained his post, along with the portfolio of electricity and water. Minister of Finance and Acting State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel: She was born in 1968. She acquired a BA in accounting from Kuwait University in 1989. She was chosen State Minister for Economic Affairs and Acting Minister of Finance in December 2017. She held several senior posts at the Ministry of Finance.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah:

Born in 1971, he obtained a BA in international relations and a BA in foreign languages. He acquired Metriz Certificate for human science from France’s University of Strasbourg and a master’s degree in international relations and translation from the same university in 1995. He acquired a doctorate in political science from France’s Sorbonne University in 2000. He held several high-level posts at the Foreign Ministry, including an extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador in 2005. He became Assistant Foreign Minister for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s Office Affairs in 2016 and Assistant Foreign Minister for the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s Office Affairs in 2017.

Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Housing Affairs Dr Rana Al-Fares:

She acquired a BA in civil engineering from South California University in 2004 and a doctorate in geo-technology from the same university. She was a professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Oil at Kuwait University. She was picked deputy chairman of the Central Agency for Tenders in December 2017. She also became assistant undersecretary for governmental followup at the Government Performance Follow-up Agency.

Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Saud Al-Harbi:

Born in 1961, Al-Harbi obtained a BA in educational psychology from Kuwait University in 1986 and a master’s degree in education from Kuwait University in 2000 and a PhD from Cairo University in 2006. He held several posts at the Ministry of Education, mainly the ministry’s undersecretary. He was elected director-general of the Arab League’s Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

Minister of Social Affairs Dr Ghadeer Aseeri:

She acquired a BA in philosophy from Kuwait University in 2002, a master’s degree in social service and policy in 2008 from the US and a doctorate in social policy from the UK in 2016. She worked in the Social Development Office of His Highness the Prime Minister’s Diwan.

Minister of State for Service Affairs and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Mubarak Al-Harees:

He was born in 1964. He obtained a PhD in law from Kuwait University. He was elected a member of parliament in 2013 and then 2016. He was a legal scholar in the office of the governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait and head of the Fatwa and Legislation Department’s legislation development committee.

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Waleed Al-Jassem:

He was born in 1959. He acquired a BA in architecture from the US South Carolina University in 1983. He occupied several posts at Kuwait Municipality, including deputy director-general.

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