Manama: Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, has been named by the cabinet as successor of Sheikh Sabah al-Ahamad, state media reported Tuesday night. He will be sworn in as the 16th Emir of Kuwait on Wednesday.
National Assembly Speaker, Marzouq Al Ghanim, said that the National Assembly will hold a special session on Wednesday at 11am, during which Sheikh Nawaf will take the constitutional oath in accordance with Article 60 of the Kuwaiti constitution.
Sheikh Nawaf was the Emir’s half-brother, and had previously served Kuwait for over 50 years under various positions. He held the portfolio of Minister of Defence and the Minister of Interior previously. He was sworn in as crown prince in February 2006, after Sheikh Sabah was appointed Emir.
The 83-years-old crown prince was temporarily given some of the Emir’s constitutional duties on July 18 when the Emir was admitted to hospital. Under Kuwaiti law, in the absence of the Emir, the crown prince is appointed as acting ruler.
After the 1990 invasion of Iraq, Sheikh Nawaf assumed the post of Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, which he held until 1992. He was deputy chief of the Kuwaiti National Guard between 1994 and 2003. That year, he was appointed the post of Minister of Interior and as the first Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait.
Sheikh Nawaf played a key role in maintaining the security and stability of the Gulf. He played an active role in the meetings of the interior ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with the aim of joining forces against common threats.
Currently, he is the oldest Crown Prince in the world
