The changes ordered by the emir cover seven ministries, including the posts of deputy prime minister and minister of state for defence (and intelligence). Elected seats in the Shura Council have been abolished while new Qataris will be eligible for appointment. A foreign ministry  spokesperson calls  "inaccurate" reports that Qatar will no longer mediate, but Hamas’s presence in the emirate appears to be on hold.

Doha (AsiaNews) – Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday ordered a cabinet reshuffle involving seven ministries, state news agency QNA has reported.

This decision follows a constitutional referendum that saw an overwhelming majority vote in favour of abolishing elected seats in the Shura Council (consultative assembly).

This is part of an attempt to adjust the domestic power structure amid strong regional winds and possible changes affecting the entire Middle East. It also reflects a settling of scores, first and foremost, with those who tried to mediate a truce in Gaza.

The reshuffle involves existing cabinet members and newcomers. Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani is the new deputy prime minister as well as minister of state for defence.

The emir appointed Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The latter currently serves as head of investments in Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and chairs the Qatari telecommunications group Ooredoo. It is not known if and when he will be replaced in such bodies.

In addition, Emir Al Thani appointed Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater as the new Minister of Education. She previously served as Minister of State for International Cooperation and led Qatar’s global humanitarian efforts, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.

She also helped repatriate dozens of Ukrainian children from Russia and Russian-occupied territories. Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad replaces her at Ministry of International Cooperation.

The Emir appointed Buthaina bint Ali al-Nuaimi as Minister of Social Development and Family, Mansur bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud as Minister of Health, and Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Thani as the new Minister of Transport.

Mohammed Al Sowaidi will serve as QIA’s chief executive officer, after establishing and serving as chief of investments in the Americas of Qatar’s US$ 510 billion sovereign wealth fund, with offices and investment team in New York. He replaces Mansour Ibrahim al-Mahmoud at the QIA, the new Health minister.

The reshuffle comes a week after a constitutional referendum abolished direct elections to the Shura Council whose members will now be appointed.

The last elections took place a year before Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup under intense international scrutiny for human rights violations, and proved to be very divisive since only Qataris whose ancestors were already citizens in 1930 were eligible to vote and stand as candidates in constituencies drawn along tribal lines.

The referendum result showed overwhelming support for giving all Qataris, irrespective of their seniority in the country, the possibility of being in the Shura Council.

Qatar also officially responded to recent reports that it was walking away from its role as mediator between Hamas and Israel and shutting down the Palestinian movement’s offices in Doha, calling them “inaccurate”.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said that he had notified the parties 10 days ago that mediation would halt if the ongoing round of talks failed.

Negotiations, he explained, will be resumed when the parties show “seriousness to end the brutal war and ongoing suffering of civilians”.

When the parties make up their minds, Qatar will be back, he said, “at the forefront of making every effort to ending the war, returning the captives and prisoners".

More broadly, he stressed that his government remains committed to supporting the Palestinians in obtaining their rights and an independent state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as their capital.

Al-Ansari insisted that people obtain information from official and reliable sources, denying reports that the Hamas office was closed in the Qatari capital because it “no longer serves its purpose”.

“The main objective of [Hamas’] office’s presence in Qatar is to be a channel of communication between the concerned parties” who, in the past, reached ceasefire agreements and led to the exchange of prisoners and hostages, including women and children, in November 2023.

• qatar
• cabinet shuffle
• shura council
• elections
• appointed
• talks
• truce
• israel
• hamas