Kuwait Prime Minister Quit To Preempt Parliament's Ousting Him
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Kuwait is without a government after the prime minister quit before parliament forced him out of office. Once more, opposition parliamentarians are preventing Kuwait's government from enacting debt legislation, critical to the country's economic recovery. The situation isn't new. The government that resigned was Kuwait's fourth in two years.
Hardline members of Iran's parliament claim they've seen a draft of a nuclear agreement between Iran and Western powers and they fear a "bad deal." But those involved in the Vienna talks say there's no draft because there's no agreement yet.
Pope Francis will go to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia raises its oil prices to their highest levels yet, Yemen's warring parties trade accusations of breaking the ceasefire, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps moves into Syria to replace Russian forces.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading investors in the Horn of Africa, and news from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and More.
Kuwait's prime minister saw that parliament was about to force him from office, so he quit first. The resignation of Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, a member of Kuwait's ruling family, averted a push by opposition lawmakers who looked set to have the required support to force him out. The prime minister then submitted his resignation letter to Kuwait's crown prince, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Kuwait found itself without a government after only three months in office and for the fourth time in two years.
The resignation came after the prime minister was questioned last week in parliament, where opponents have repeatedly pushed for his ouster, and it deepens a long-running political standoff that has held back Kuwait's economy. Political disfunction has plagued Kuwait for years, hurting development, driving away foreign investment, thwarting fiscal reform, and hindering efforts to diversify the economy away from oil. Kuwait has had 18 governments and eight elections since 2006.
Bloomberg, Kuwait's premier resigns to preempt parliament's move to oust him.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Kuwait PM submits govt resignation to crown prince.
Kuwait's central bank continues to lead calls for economic reform as political deadlock threatens a liquidity crunch. Basel Ahmed Salem al-Haroun took over as central bank governor on April 1, replacing Mohammad Yousef al-Hashel, who had asked that his term not be renewed. Al-Haroun was named to a five-year term, taking over the central bank's efforts for a debt law. Kuwait's parliament has repeatedly blocked attempts to pass a debt law, crucial to the Kuwaiti government's ability to issue debt.
Global Finance, Kuwait's central bank calls for reforms.
Iran's parliament is split on the Vienna nuclear talks as some claim to have seen a draft of a deal. "No agreement has been reached between Iran and the West so that a draft would be prepared," Fada Hossein Maleki, member of parliament's national security committee, said. "To date, the Foreign Ministry has not submitted a draft of the Vienna agreement to the parliament because no agreement has been reached.”
But that did not stop hardline members from calling for the expulsion of Iran's negotiating team in Vienna, denouncing an alleged draft, harshly criticizing their own diplomats, slamming the previous Iranian government for being Western-oriented and striking a deal with the United States, and warning against a "bad deal."
Asharq Al-Awsat, Vienna draft angers Iranian MPs.
Yemen's warring parties traded accusations of violating a ceasefire only days after an agreement went into effect. "The truce has been greatly welcomed, but it is threatened by Huthis' breaches including military deployments, mobilisation of troops and vehicles, artillery and drone strikes," Yemen's foreign minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said. Houthi insurgents also claimed "breaches" of the truce in statements through their media channels.
AFP, Yemen warring parties trade charges of truce violations.
Saudi Aramco is raising its oil prices to new record highs. The company increased its charges for customers in all regions as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to reverberate through world markets. The Saudi increase is likely to set the tone for other Middle East producers such as Iraq and Kuwait, and one commodity analyst said "It’s a massive increase. Extra volumes from Saudi Arabia will only come at a high price."
Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia hikes oil prices further into record territory.
Pope Francis will visit Lebanon in June. The visit is expected to show support for Lebanon's experiencing an unprecedented economic meltdown. The announcement by Lebanese president Michel Aoun came after the Pope said he was trying to arrange a meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, despite that leader's seeming justification of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Francis said he wouldn't rule out traveling to Ukraine if it would help. The trip to Lebanon in June will be the first by a Pope since 2012.
Associated Press, Pope Francis to visit Lebanon in June during economic crisis.
A Lebanese judge lifted a travel ban on two senior bankers. The bans were imposed last month as part of an ongoing investigation into transactions between commercial banks and Lebanon's central bank. Judge Ghada Aoun said she was removing the travel bans on Saad Azhari, head of Blom Bank, and Samir Hanna, head of Bank Audi, so they could attend hearings as part of the investigation.
Reuters, Lebanon judge lifts travel ban on 2 bankers.
Elements of Syria's government are key drivers of the captagon trade in the Middle East, working with Lebanon's Hezbollah. A report by the New Lines Institute found that the amphetamine-type stimulant, notorious for its ties to violent extremism, has seen distribution grow from small operations in Syria to high levels in Syria's government. "Elements of the Syrian government are key drivers in the captagon trade, with ministerial level complicity in production and smuggling," the report said. Hezbollah in Lebanon was described as part of a network of state-aligned proxy militias that provide a security umbrella for smuggling operations.
Neharnet, Report says Hizbullah serves key role in growing captagon trade.
New Lines Institute, The Captagon Threat: A profile of illicit trade, consumption, and regional realities.
Large reinforcements from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrived in Syria along with the Lebanese Hezbollah to control a major arms and ammunition depot in Homs after Russian forces were moved. About 40 Iranian military vehicles equipped with weapons and some carrying Hezbollah forces were seen arriving in the area.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Iranian militias deployed in central Syria after Russia's withdrawal.
A top judicial official said Iran will pursue its case against those responsible for the death of Qassem Soleimani by the U.S. even if it takes "years." Iran's prosecutor-general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said "I assure you that we will not abandon the investigation and finalization of this case, and even if it takes years, we will bring it to fruition." Soleimani was a top Iranian commander who headed the Quds Force, an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and widely considered the most powerful figure in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq in 2020 ordered by then-President Donald Trump.
Al Arabiya, Iran won't stop seeking 'punishment' of those behind Soleimani killing: official.
Researchers believe the phones of four Jordanian human rights activists were hacked with spyware from the Israeli NSO Group. Two study groups said the mobile phones were hacked over a two-year period, with the hacking appearing to be by Jordan's government. Jordan denied the allegations.
Associated Press, Israeli firm's spyware used on Jordan activists, report says.
Iraq's oil production fell sharply below its OPEC+ quota in March. Iraq, like other OPEC producers, is struggling to produce more oil at a time when supply is tight and prices are soaring. Iraq pumped 4.15 million barrels a day of oil in March, which was 222,000 barrels a day short of its production quota.
Reuters, Iraq's March oil output falls as gap with its OPEC+ quota widens.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing in Africa's horn countries of Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the strategic importance of the region, and a recent study showed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are responsible for 88% of investment, followed by Qatar and Kuwait.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia, UAE top Gulf investments in Horn of Africa.
Gulf states are interested in buying stakes in Egypt. A company owned by the Egyptian army and a power plant built by Siemens AG are viewed as investment targets, the head of Egypt's sovereign wealth fund said. Sales of the companies are planned this year either through an initial public offering, a partnership, or combination of the two.
Bloomberg, Gulf states eye Egypt power plant, fuel firm in investment surge.
Turkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan, called the dissolution of Tunisia's parliament a "smearing of democracy." Erdogan criticized the move by Tunisia's President Kais Saied to shut down parliament after having suspended it, and said the action was a blow to the will of the Tunisian people. In a statement, Erdogan said "Democracy is a system that is the embodiment of the respect between the elected and the appointed. We see the developments in Tunisia as a smearing of democracy.”
Reuters, Turkey's Erdogan says dissolving Tunisia's parliament a smear on democracy.
Tunisia's foreign ministry said Turkish President Erdogan's comments about dissolving the Tunisian parliament were "an unacceptable interference" in internal affairs. "Tunisia expresses its astonishment at the Turkish President's statement," the ministry said. "These comments are unacceptable."
Reuters, Tunisia calls Erdogan comments on president's decree unacceptable interference.
Members of Tunisia's parliament who met and defied the country's president face charges that could include the death penalty. Tunisia's president Kais Saied condemned a session of parliament as a "failed coup attempt," and former member Samir Dilou, who attended the session, said the legislators stand accused of having "attempted to change the political system and to cause disorder."
BBC, Tunisia MPs 'risk death penalty' over online session.
MORE: Egypt's wheat imports from Russia rose in March despite war, Reuters.... Egypt's non-oil private sector activity at 21-month low, RTTNews... Outgoing air force chief says Israel no longer has freedom of action over Lebanon, Times of Israel... Hopes build for Jordan's economic rehabilitation, Global Finance... Spanish PM to visit Morocco on Thursday as ties improve, Reuters... . Somalia's intelligence agency warns of al Shabaab threat against top leaders, Reuters.
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Tunisia's president seems unwilling to compromise with his political opponents, but the European Union can help. The EU can set limits on Kais Saied's behavior through a combination of financial assistance and public statements.
European Council on Foreign Relations, The battle for Tunisia's democracy.
An agreement is likely still a long way off in Yemen, but at least some of the parties are starting to talk, listen, and, ever so slowly, compromise. If the ceasefire holds, it can create space for future peace talks.
Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, The Ramadan cease-fire in Yemen.