Kuwaiti Emir Forms New Government, Including a Ministerial Shake-Up

Kuwait’s emir announced Sunday that some parts of the constitution had been suspended and that Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah would lead the country’s new cabinet by royal decree.  

Sheikh Ahmad, who was elected prime minister last month, is the nephew of the Emir of Kuwait, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Although the latter is 83 years old, he only ascended to Kuwait’s throne in December 2023.  

Kuwait diverges from many other Gulf kingdoms in that its parliament has traditionally yielded more than nominal power and influence over the country.  

Sunday’s decree called for the current ministers of finance, oil, and foreign affairs to retain their posts and suspended the requirement for a new parliament to be elected within two months of a dissolution.  

Executed in response to political deadlock and sharpening divides within Kuwait’s National Assembly, Friday’s decision to disband parliament and put total legislative power in the hands of the emir and the cabinet was reported by government-run television.  

While Kuwait’s emir had already dissolved parliament once this year, as part of last week’s decision, the government indicated that those shelved constitution articles would be reactive within four years. During this time, the country’s democratic processes will allegedly be studied and improved, the decree added.