The New Cabinet

 

Photo taken from http://www.cnn.com

The first democratically elected Iraqi governement in the last 50 years was sworn in on May 4, 2005. The list of cabinet members, however, was initially incomplete. Six ministries - defence, oil, electricity, industry and minerals and human rights - were left vacant. For the vacancies were appointed temporary ministers - Ibrahim al-Jafaari (Defence Min.), Ahmad Chalabi (Oil Min.), Raus Noori Shawys (Electricity Min.), Misleh Al Jibouri (Industry Min.) and Nirman Ottoman (Human Rights Ministry). Two deputy prime ministers post were also left unfilled.

On May 9, the Iraqi parliament approved nominations for the 6 ministries that were left vacant when the new cabinet was first sworn in. Ibrahim al-Uloum, (from the United Iraqi Alliance), is the new oil minister. Muhsin Shlash, also a Shia, is the new electricity minister. The post of defence minister is filled by Saadoun al-Duleimi, the industry minister is given to the Sunni Usama al-Najafi and the third deputy prime minister is Abid Mutlaq al-Juburi, all of whom - Sunnis.

Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli, a Sunni, appointed to be a Human Rights Minister, rejected the post, saying that "concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post".

The new interim government takes over from Iyad Allawi's US-appointed transitional government. It will have the important task to draft a permanent constitution and, if the constitution is approved by the Iraqi people (in a referendum), to organise elections for a permanent governement before the end of 2005.

List of Ministers:
(as of May 9, 2005)

Prime Minister: Ibrahim al-Jafaari (Shia)

Deputy Prime Minister: Ahmed Chalabi (Shia)

Deputy Prime Minister: Raus Noori Shawys (Kurd)

Deputy Prime Minister: Mutlaq al-Juburi (Sunni)

Deputy Prime Minister: Unnamed

Defence Minister: Saadoun al-Dulami (Sunni)

Interior Minister: Baqir Solagh Jabur (Shia-Turkman)

Foreign Minister: Hushyar Zibari (Kurd)

Finance Minister: Ali Abd al-Amir Allawi (Shia)

Oil Minister: Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum (Shia)

Electricity Minister: Munsin Shlash (Shia)

Reconstruction and Housing Minister: Jassim Muhammad Jaafar (Shia)

Education Minister: Abd al-Falah Hassan (Shia)

Higher Education Minister: Sami al-Mudhafar (Shia)

Health Minister: Abd al-Mutalib Muhammad Ali (Shia)

Planning and Development Minister: Barham Saleh (Kurd)

Communications Minister: Juwan Massoum (Kurd)

Trade Minister: Abd al-Bassit Kareem Mawlud (Kurd)

Industry and Minerals Minister: Usama al-Najafi (Sunni)

Agriculture Minister: Ali al-Bahadli (Shia)

Justice Minister: Abd al-Hussain Shandal (Shia)

Labour and Social Affairs Minister: Idris Hadi (Kurd)

Water Resources Minister: Latif Rashid (Kurd)

Transport Minister: Salam al-Maliki (Shia)

Culture Minister: Noori Farhan al-Rawi (Sunni)

Science and Technology Minister: Bassima Yussuf Bufrus (Christian)

Immigrants and Expatriates Minister: Suhaila abd al-Jaafar (Shia)

Sports and Youth Minister: Talib Aziz Zinni (Shia)

Environment Minister: Nirmin Ottoman (Kurd)

Human Rights Minister: Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli (Sunni): rejected the post

Municipalities and Public Works Minister: Nisirin Berwari (Kurd)

State Minister for National Security: Abd al-Karim al-Anizzi (Shia)

State Minister for Governorates Affairs: Saad Karim al-Hardan (Shia)

State Minister for Civil Society: Alaa Habib Kadhum (Shia)

State Minister for Women Affairs: Azhar al-Shaikhli (Sunni)

State Minister for Tourism and Antiquities: Hashim al-Hashimi (Sunni)

State Minister for National Assembly Affairs: Safuddin al-Safi (Shia)