Brunei Sultan Reshuffles Cabinet, Two Sons Enter the Political Arena
The power dynasty in Brunei Darussalam has been reaffirmed. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has carried out a massive cabinet reshuffle, placing two of his sons in strategic positions, including the post of Foreign Minister, in a move assessed as a reinforcement of the leadership succession line.
Sultan Bolkiah announced the large-scale reshuffle on Thursday (4/6) local time. The restructuring has created several new portfolios and brought two of the Sultan’s sons into the ministerial ranks. This marks the first cabinet reshuffle since 2022 and occurs amidst the pressures of the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran.
In a televised broadcast, Sultan Bolkiah emphasised that he maintains primary control of the government, serving 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. Meanwhile, his fourth son, Prince Abdul Mateen—who is widely popular on social media—has officially been appointed as Brunei’s Foreign Minister. This position was previously under the direct control of Sultan Bolkiah.
The Sultan’s eldest son, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, retains his position as Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. In making these appointments, Sultan Bolkiah stated that the decision was made considering the ‘inclinations and early experience of their involvement in the government administration system.’
Among the three sons now in government, Prince Abdul Mateen is the most prominent figure. In addition to his position in the line of succession, he is widely known on social media with over three million Instagram followers, providing a modern image for the royal family. Abdul Mateen is an officer in the Brunei Armed Forces, trained in the United Kingdom, and serves as a helicopter pilot. He is also an avid polo player and frequently accompanies the Sultan on foreign visits, including high-level diplomatic forums. He married in January 2024 in a grand ceremony in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. In the announcement, Sultan Bolkiah confirmed that Abdul Mateen will continue his military career despite his new duties as Foreign Minister.