Alwaght- The Qatari regime on Wednesday overhauled its cabinet, in a sign that the young emir is facing challenges coping with falling energy prices and growing regional conflicts.
The cabinet reshuffled by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, which includes new ministers of foreign affairs and defense, comes at a time when the energy-rich country and its Persian Gulf neighbors have been hit by collapsing oil prices. Income from oil and gas sales makes up the bulk of their revenue, forcing them to reassess their spending plans at home to contain widening deficits.
It also comes as Qatari involvement in regional conflicts increases. Qatar has been part of a Saudi-led military coalition waging a brutal war on Yemeni people since last March and supporting terrorist groups in Syria.
Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, the minister of foreign affairs since 2013, was appointed Qatar’s minister of state for defense, according to the official Qatar News Agency. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was appointed the foreign minister, QNA said. He had been the assistant foreign minister for international cooperation, according to the foreign ministry’s website.
The motive behind the cabinet reshuffle wasn’t immediately clear, but apparently included combining several ministries, including communication and transport that had been separate ministries.
Qatar last month said it faces a budget shortfall of 46.5 billion riyals ($12.8 billion) in 2016 as it estimates revenue will d r o p to 156 billion riyals from 225.7 billion riyals in the previous budget. Its expenditure is likely to fall to 202.5 billion riyals from 218.4 billion riyals in the previous year.