[Oman-L] Minor cabinet reshuffle in Oman

[Joachim Duester]

Sultan Qaboos reshuffles Oman cabinet   
Agence France-Presse - 10 September, 2007

Oman’s Sultan Qaboos yesterday ordered a government
reshuffle that affected a number of technical
ministries and split two ministries into two
departments, the official ONA news agency reported.

Decrees issued by the ruler of the sultanate created a
Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, which
will be headed by Hamoud ibn Faisal Al-Busaidi, and a
Fisheries Ministry headed by Sheikh Mohammad ibn Ali
Al-Qatbi, ONA said.

Al-Qatbi was hitherto governor of Dhofar province and
minister of state without portfolio. Qaboos also set
up an electricity and water authority.

He named Sheikh Ahmad ibn Mohammad Al-Issai as new
president of the Majlis ash-Shoura or Consultative
Council, just weeks before elections to the 83-member
advisory body slated for Oct. 27. Issai replaces
Sheikh Abdullah ibn Ali Al-Qatbi, who becomes a state
adviser, ONA said.

Yussef ibn Alawi ibn Abdullah is the minister
responsible for foreign affairs and Saud ibn Ibrahim
Al-Busaidi is the interior minister. There are three
women ministers in the Cabinet. Ms. Rawya bint Saud
Al-Busaidi holds the Higher Education portfolio, Ms.
Rajiha bint Abdul Amir ibn Ali is the tourism minister
and Ms. Sherifa bint Khalfan ibn Nasser Al-Yahiyaia is
the social development minister.