JABER BRANCH OF RULING FAMILY CONSOLIDATES POWER:

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000453 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2016 TAGS: PGOV KU SUBJECT: JABER BRANCH OF RULING FAMILY CONSOLIDATES POWER: AMIR APPOINTS BROTHER AND NEPHEW AS CP AND PM, RESPECTIVELY REF: A. KUWAIT 424 ¶B. KUWAIT 347 ¶C. KUWAIT 316 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) After meeting with senior family members the evening of February 7, the Amir appointed his half-brother and former Minister of Interior Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Crown Prince, and his nephew and former Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs (a non-Cabinet ministerial position) Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Prime Minister. The appointments give the already dominant Al-Jaber branch of the ruling family, specifically the Al-Ahmed line, control of the country's top three posts and may end -- many speculate for good -- the historical alternation of the amirship between the Jaber and Salem branches of the ruling family. Although Shaykh Nasser is expected to form a new Cabinet in the coming week, most observers predict there will be few changes. The Crown Prince's appointment must still be approved by a parliamentary majority. Shaykh Nawaf is a respected figure in Kuwaiti society and Parliament is expected to rubber-stamp the Amir's choice. ¶2. (C) The appointments are unlikely to significantly affect GOK policy, which will continue to be directed by Shaykh Sabah. Under Shaykh Sabah, the GOK is expected to continue its strong support for coalition efforts in Iraq. The Government will also likely continue to implement political and economic reforms, although the pace of reform will likely be gradual. Reform advocates in Kuwait, who hoped for the appointment of a younger, more reform-minded Crown Prince like Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, have expressed disappointment in the appointments. Shaykhs Nawaf and Nasser are both seen as loyal members of the old guard. While we would not expect them to be bold innovators, Shaykh Sabah could conceivably use his consolidated position to push a reform agenda more vigorously. ¶3. (U) Septel will report additional reaction to the appointments. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LeBaron