Mustafa al-Kadhimi was sworn in as Iraq's Prime Minister early Thursday morning, after two other nominee's were sidelined by political fighting, six months after Adil Abd al-Mahdi semi-resigned.
Kadhimi's chances were almost derailed by competing claims of parties to certain ministries, which leaves the new government without a sitting Oil Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Sixteen ministers were approved and six were rejected, which is enough for Kadhimi to form a government.
Kadhimi is now effectively acting Oil Minister, who will rely on the two deputy oil ministers - Hamid Younis Salih and Karim Hattab - after Senior Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh Nema was forced to retire due to a newly enforced age limit.
Abd al-Mahdi, who remained a quasi-caretaker premier, requested to be replaced as anti-government protests escalated. Kadhimi faces significant challenges besides appeasing protester demands:
This story will be updated with the list of the full Cabinet.
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