Brunei Sultan Reshuffles Cabinet, Prince Abdul Mateen Appointed Foreign Minister

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam has appointed one of his sons as Foreign Minister in a large-scale cabinet reshuffle. This move is viewed as a step towards preparing the next generation of leaders for the small, oil-rich sultanate.

As reported by AFP and Reuters on Saturday (6/6/2026), Sultan Bolkiah announced the extensive reshuffle on Thursday (4/6) local time, creating new key portfolios and appointing two of his sons as ministers. This reshuffle is the first since 2022 and comes as Brunei faces pressure from the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran.

In a televised broadcast, Sultan Bolkiah stated that he will continue to hold key roles as Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Finance of Brunei. His second son, Prince Abdul Malik, has been appointed as a Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, marking his first cabinet position. His fourth son, Prince Abdul Mateen, who is popular on social media, has been appointed as Brunei’s Foreign Minister, a position previously held by Sultan Bolkiah himself.

The Sultan’s eldest son, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, retains his position as Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. In appointing his sons to government roles, Sultan Bolkiah stated that he had considered their “inclinations and early experience within the government administration system.”

Among the three sons now holding government positions, Prince Abdul Mateen is the most prominent figure. Beyond his place in the line of succession, his significant social media presence, with over three million Instagram followers, provides a modern face for the Brunei Royal Family. Prince Abdul Mateen is a military officer in the Brunei Armed Forces, trained in the United Kingdom, and is a helicopter pilot. An avid polo player, he frequently accompanies his father on official overseas visits, including diplomatic summits. Prince Abdul Mateen married in January 2024 in a high-profile ceremony in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. Upon announcing the reshuffle, Sultan Bolkiah noted that Prince Abdul Mateen will continue his military career while serving as Foreign Minister.