Mustafa Jassem Al-Shamali Explained

Mustafa Jassem Al Shamali
Office:Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil
Primeminister:Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah
Term Start:4 August 2013
Term End:January 2014
Predecessor:Hani Hussein
Successor:Ali al-Omair
Office1:Minister of Finance
Primeminister1:Nasser Mohammed Al Sabah
Term Start1:2007
Term End1:May 2012
Predecessor1:Badr Mishary Al-Humaidhi
Successor1:Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf
Alma Mater:Ain Shams University
Native Name:مصطفى جاسم الشمالي
Native Name Lang:ar

Mustafa Jassem Al-Shamali (born 1943) is a Kuwaiti politician who has had held different cabinet posts. He served as Minister of Finance between 2007 and May 2012.[1] He also served as oil minister from 4 August 2013[2] to January 2014.

Early life and education

Shamali was born in 1943.[3] He received a bachelor's degree in business and management from Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1968.[2]

Career

Shamali started his career at the ministry of finance following the graduation.[3] He held different positions at the ministry, including director of the economic cooperation department (1975–1982), director of the ministry's general diwan (1985–1986), the ministry's undersecretary for economic affairs (1986–2006), and director of the ministry's undersecretary (2006–2007).[3]

On 13 December 2011, Shamali was appointed minister of health, but was replaced by Ali Saad Al Obeidi on 14 February 2012.[4] Shamali was appointed as finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle in February 2012.[5]

On 27 May 2013, Shamali was also appointed acting oil minister to succeed Hani Hussein who resigned from office.[6] On 4 August he was appointed oil minister.[7] Salem Abdulaziz Al Sabah replaced Shamali as finance minister.[7] Shamali was also made deputy prime minister in the same reshuffle.[8] In addition, he is chairman of the board of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA).[9]

In January 2014, Ali Al Omair was appointed oil minister and replaced him in the post.[10]

The "Settling Score and Revenge Grilling" Incident

In March 2012, Musallam Al-Barrak, head of Kuwait’s Public Funds’ Protection Committee, declared that the Popular Action Bloc, would file a motion against officials at the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) due to payments made by KIA to Kuwaiti companies. Al-Barrak accused Mustafa Al-Shamali of failing to protect public funds and announced he would be held accountable.[11] Al-Shamali resigned during a parliamentary session after refuting the allegations, denouncing the inquiry as a politically motivated “witch-hunt” and a vendetta by Al-Barrak and other opposition members.[12] He asserted that the questioning strayed from the public interest, aimed instead at personal retaliation. His resignation underlined growing tensions within the three-month-old government, leading to the eventual dissolution of the National Assembly. Despite these events, Al-Shamali was reinstated in the new government following the dissolution, backed by the confidence of the Prime Minister and the Emir of Kuwait.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت. www.mof.gov.kw.
  2. Web site: Curriculum Vitae. Kuwait Ministry of Oil. 13 September 2013.
  3. News: Kuwaiti new cabinet in profile. 12 October 2013. KUNA. 12 December 2012. Lobna Maarefi. Majda Al Awadhi.
  4. Web site: 14 February 2012 - Decree Number 18 for the Year 2012 to Appoint a Cabinet. The Government of Kuwait. 14 February 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016101651/http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/government/decreeCabinetFormation.jsp. 16 October 2013. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Kuwait forms new cabinet with 10 fresh faces. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201102315/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmlX-_88hMC76UvwOIOGFsWgAdwQ?docId=CNG.b779101791d85a0652720d98fc7b42a1.5e1. dead. 1 February 2014. AFP. 14 February 2012.
  6. News: Kuwait's Shamali Named Acting Oil Minister. 23 August 2013. Gulf Business. 27 May 2013. Reuters.
  7. News: Al Shamali oil minister in new Kuwait cabinet. 23 August 2013. TradeArabia. 4 August 2013.
  8. Web site: Decree of Cabinet Formation. The Diwan. 24 August 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016101651/http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/government/decreeCabinetFormation.jsp#04_August_2013_-_Decree_number_212_for_year_2013_of_the_formation_of_the_Cabinet. 16 October 2013. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: KIA held a luncheon banquet. Kuwait Investment Authority. 12 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120820183601/http://www.kia.gov.kw/En/Press_Room/Press_Releases/Pages/PR3.aspx. 20 August 2012. dead.
  10. News: Kuwait cabinet reshuffle brings seven new faces. 10 September 2014. Asharq Al Awsat. 7 January 2014. London.
  11. Web site: Moves to protect corrupt individuals – Bloc prepares grilling motion against finance minister. Kuwait Times. 12 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120721230524/http://new.kuwaittimes.net/2012/03/11/moves-to-protect-corrupt-individuals-bloc-prepares-grilling-motion-against-finance-minister/. 21 July 2012. dead.
  12. News: Kuwait finmin resigns after push by opposition. Reuters. 24 May 2012. Harby. Mahmoud.