Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT467
2006-02-09 17:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

AMIR APPROVES NEW CABINET: SHI'A AND ICM GAIN;

Tags:  PGOV PREL KU PINR SUCCESSION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1701
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #0467/01 0401724
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091724Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2957
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000467 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU,
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KU PINR SUCCESSION
SUBJECT: AMIR APPROVES NEW CABINET: SHI'A AND ICM GAIN;
PRO-REFORM MINISTERS RE-APPOINTED

REF: KUWAIT 453

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000467

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NSC FOR RAMCHAND, LONDON FOR TSOU,
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KU PINR SUCCESSION
SUBJECT: AMIR APPROVES NEW CABINET: SHI'A AND ICM GAIN;
PRO-REFORM MINISTERS RE-APPOINTED

REF: KUWAIT 453

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Amir Shaykh Sabah approved on February 9 a
new Cabinet, which was particularly notable for the
appointment of a second Shi'a minister and one of the leaders
of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM),the political
arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait. The appointments
likely indicate Shaykh Sabah's desire to build unity in the
new Government by co-opting Kuwait's different political
communities. The re-appointments of the Minister of Planning
Dr. Ma'souma Al-Mubarak, Kuwait's first female minister, and
Minister of Information Dr. Anas Al-Rashaid are also
significant and may indicate Shaykh Sabah's support for their
reform policies. While there were a number of changes in the
Cabinet, few are likely to significantly affect Kuwaiti
government (GOK) policy, which will still be directed by
Shaykh Sabah. The new Cabinet does not indicate any
willingness to patch up poor relations with the Salem branch.
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah is
the only representative in the new Government. End summary.

Shi'a and ICM Gain; Salems Lose Big
--------------


2. (C) On February 9, the Amir approved a new Cabinet, in
which Kuwait's minority Shi'a population and the Islamic
Constitutional Movement (ICM) saw significant gains. The
appointments suggest Amir Shaykh Sabah is trying to co-opt
different political communities in Kuwait into the new
Government, most notably the Shi'a and moderate Islamists.
The Cabinet formation comes two days after the Amir appointed
former Interior Minister and his half-brother Shaykh Nawaf
Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Crown Prince and former
Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs (a non-Cabinet
ministerial-position) Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Prime Minister (reftel). The two
appointments, particularly that of the Prime Minister, were
somewhat unexpected and indicate a continuation of Shaykh

Sabah's dominance of political decision-making power in
Kuwait; both Shaykhs Nawaf and Nasser are seen as very loyal
to the Amir.


3. (C) While there were a number of changes in the new
Cabinet, none will likely significantly impact GOK policy,
which will still be directed by Shaykh Sabah. There were,
however, several significant appointments with broad
political implications. First, the appointment of former
Chairman of Parliament's Financial and Economic Affairs
Committee Dr. Yousef Al-Zalzalah, a moderate Shi'a member of
Parliament, as Minister of Commerce will be welcomed by
Kuwait's minority Shi'a community (approximately 30% of the
population),which has complained of under-representation in
the Government. (Note: Minister of Planning and State
Minister for Administrative Development Dr. Ma'souma
Al-Mubarak, the only female in the Government, was also the
only Shi'a in the previous Cabinet. End note.) With
Al-Zalzalah's appointment and the fact that former Justice
Minister MP Ahmed Baqer was not re-appointed, there will be a
total of 64 voting members of Parliament: 49 elected MPs and
15 Government Ministers.


4. (C) Second, the appointment of Dr. Ismail Al-Shatti, a
former MP and head of the ICM's Ideological and
"Civilizational" Dialogue Office, as Minister of Commerce is
a major gain for the ICM, which is the most organized and
active political association in Kuwait. (Note: Dr. Ismail
Al-Shatti recently told Poloff the Ideological and
Civilizational Dialogue Office is really the ICM's Foreign
Relations Office, but could not be titled such without
angering the Government, which does not officially recognize
political parties. End note.) The ICM's Political Relations
Chief, Mohammmed Al-Dallal, told Poloff February 8 that
Al-Shatti has very good relations with Prime Minister Shaykh
Nasser Mohammed. Al-Shatti's appointment may indicate the
association's rising social and political influence.


5. (C) Another potentially significant appointment was
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah's elevation to the
position of Deputy Prime Minister, in addition to Foreign
Minister. The only member of the Salem branch in the new
Government, Shaykh Dr. Mohammed's "promotion" is more likely
a recognition of his strong support for Shaykh Sabah during
the recent leadership crisis than it is an indication of
increased power. Ahmed Deyain, a liberal writer and an
expert on ruling family politics, told Poloff February 8 that
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed had missed his opportunity and predicted
he would gradually lose political influence.

KUWAIT 00000467 002 OF 003



Pro-Reform Ministers Re-Appointed
--------------


6. (C) The re-appointment of Minister of Planning Dr.
Ma'souma Al-Mubarak and Minister of Information Dr. Anas
Al-Rashaid, both strong advocates of reform policies, may
indicates Shaykh Sabah supports their policies. Al-Rashaid,
who championed a new press law and proposed a sweeping
re-organization of the Ministry of Information, may now have
the political momentum to implement his reforms. Dr.
Ma'souma recently outlined an ambitious and progressive
five-year plan, which was widely praised. Her re-appointment
may signal the Amir's willingness to move forward in
implementing this plan.

Details of New Cabinet
--------------


7. (U) The new Cabinet is as follows:

- Minister of Interior, Minister of Defense, and First
Deputy Prime Minister: Shaykh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad
Al-Sabah (Note: Shaykh Jaber was previously Deputy PM and
Defense Minister; the Interior Ministry was led by now Crown
Prince Shaykh Nawaf. End note);

- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister:
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah;

- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Minister of State
for National Assembly Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister:
Mohammed Dhaifallah Sharar;

- Minister of Health: Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed
Al-Sabah (Note: Previously Shaykh Ahmed was both Health and
Communications Minister. End note.);

- Minister of Energy: Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah;

- Minister of Communications: Dr. Ismail Khudhur Al-Shatti;

- Minister of Information: Dr. Anas Mohammed Ahmed
Al-Rashaid;

- Minister of Finance: Bader Mishari Al-Humaidi;

- Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Housing
Affairs: Bader Nasser Al-Humaidi;

- Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education:
Dr. Adel Taleb Al-Tabtabaei (Note: Dr. Adel is a Salafi
Islamist. End note.);

- Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic
Affairs: Dr. Abdullah Abdul-Rahman Al-Ma'atouq (Note: Dr.
Abdullah was the former Awqaf Minister; MP Ahmed Baqer, who
was not re-appointed to the Cabinet, was the Justice
Minister. End note.);

- Minister of State for Municipality Affairs: Abdullah Saud
Al-Muhailbi;

- Minister of Social Affairs and Labor: Shaykh Ali Jarrah
Sabah Al-Sabah (Note: Shaykh Ali is not well known to the
Embassy and a surprising choice for MOSAL Minister given his
extensive background in banking. He most recently served as
chairman of the BMB Investment Bank based in Bahrain and held
various positions at the Burgan Bank, Kuwait Finance House,
and other institutions. His appointment suggests he played a
role in the succession discussions. End note.);

- Minister of Planning and Minister of State for
Administrative Development Affairs: Dr. Ma'souma Al-Mubarak;

- Minister of Commerce and Industry: Dr. Yousef Sayed Hassan
Al-Zalzalah.


8. (U) Updated biographic information will soon be
available on post's website.

*********************************************
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
*********************************************

KUWAIT 00000467 003 OF 003


LeBaron