Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah has appointed former defence minister, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah as the country’s new prime minister, tasking him with the formation of a new government.

The 63-year-old Sheikh Jaber succeeds Sheikh Nasser al-Sabah who resigned as prime minister on 28 November, according to an decree on 30 November. The new prime minister has held the post of first deputy prime minister and defence minister since 2006.

Kuwait’s parliament is expected to be dissolved and fresh elections held in January, according to the local Arab Times newspaper.

This would be the fourth dissolution of parliament since 2006, when Sheikh Nasser, the emir’s nephew was appointed prime minister. Opposition members of parliament had increased calls for the former prime minister’s resignation following allegations of corruption (MEED 29:11:11).