Khaled al-Fadhel was reappointed as Kuwait’s oil minister on 17 December in a welcome, and rare, instance of continuity at the ministry. Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled Al Sabah was appointed Prime Minister last month amid a major corruption scandal (MEES, 22 November), and the new premier took his time in appointing his new cabinet.

While the post of oil minister is less critical than the CEO of state firms Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), the revolving door at the ministry exacerbates the sector’s uncertain political environment. (CONTINUED - 1002 WORDS)