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) 
 
¶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