Kuwait forms government with new defence and oil ministers

Kuwait formed its fifth government in less than a year under Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, naming new ministers for the defence and oil portfolios who took the oath of office ahead of parliament convening on Tuesday.

Saad Al Barrak was named as oil minister, replacing Bader Al Mulla, while Manaf Al Hajeri was reappointed as finance minister.

Sheikh Ahmad was reappointed as prime minister last week and formed his new cabinet ahead of the newly elected parliament convening its first session on Tuesday after more than a year of tensions between the legislative and executive branches.

At Tuesday’s session in parliament, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal, who was granted key constitutional powers in 2021, is expected to address both the government and citizens.

His previous speech at the National Assembly last October struck an emotional chord when the Crown Prince fought back tears as he recited verses from the holy Quran in a call for unity, before receiving a standing ovation.

As the new cabinet took its oath of office in front of Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad acknowledged past challenges have hindered their relationship with parliament.

“We pledge to God first and then His Highness the Emir of the country, your highness and the people of Kuwait to be worthy of the precious confidence in carrying the responsibility, bearing in mind the outstanding issues and the size of the grave challenges facing them, dedicating ourselves to serving Kuwait,” he said.

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, the new defence minister, returns to politics and government after more than a decade of absence. He was also appointed as deputy premier in the new cabinet. He was previously minister of oil and energy for most of his tenure in past governments.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al Sabah and Minister of Finance Manaf Al Hajeri kept their posts, as did ministers of health, information, education, commerce and industry and public works.

Newcomers to the cabinet include Sheikh Feras Al Sabah as minister of social affairs, Faleh Al Rqubah as minister of justice and Fahad Al Shulah as minister of state for municipal affairs.

In an unprecedented move, 47 out of the 50 elected MPs met informally last week ahead of their inaugural session on Tuesday to outline their agenda priorities, including discussions on amending the law surrounding the powers of the Constitutional Court.

They also discussed changing the legislature’s bylaws regarding the requirements for cabinet representation during sessions.

In a strongly-worded statement, the MPs who met said they would “not be satisfied with a weak government”.

Reacting to the government formation on Sunday night, MP Jenan Boushehri – the only woman to be elected to parliament – said the new government “faces a real test”.

“The new government collectively faces a real test by presenting a national action programme that is in line with the requirements of the representatives of political reform, economic development, and improvement of the living conditions of citizens according to applicable mechanisms and a specific timetable,” Ms Boushehri said.

Kuwait holds some of the world's largest oil reserves and has strong fiscal and external balance sheets, but political bickering and institutional gridlock have hampered investment and reforms aimed at reducing its heavy reliance on oil revenue.

Who is in Kuwait's new cabinet?

• Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah
• First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Khaled Al Sabah
• Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah
• Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Essa Al Kandari
• Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Saad Al Barrak
• Minister of State for Municipality Affairs and Minister of State for Communications Fahad Al Shulah
• Minister of Information and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abdulrahman Al Mutairi
• Minister of Health Ahmad Al Awadhi
• Minister of Public Works Amani Bougammaz
• Minister of Education, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Hamad Al Adwani
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al Sabah
• Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al Aiban
• Minister of Finance Manaf Al Hajeri
• Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Jassem Al Ostad
• Minister of Justice, Minister of State for Housing Affairs Faleh Al Rqubah
• Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of State for Women and Childhood’s Affairs Sheikh Feras Al Sabah