Kuwait’s Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah was sworn in as ruling emir of the small oil-rich country on Wednesday, propelled to power by the death of his half brother after a long career in the security services.
At 83, Sheikh Nawaf is not expected to deviate from the diplomatic path charted by his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. But his accession sparked speculation about who will become the next crown prince in the country known for its lively elected parliament and relative independence in the neighborhood from the Persian Gulf monarchies.
The late Sheikh Sabah was scheduled to make his final trip to Kuwait later Wednesday, with his coffin flying back from Rochester, Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic’s flagship campus, where he had been receiving medical treatment after surgery.
Although his funeral would generally attract tens of thousands of mourning Kuwaitis and dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the burial will be a private service restricted to family members, Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA said. The breadth and depth of emotion over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his skillful diplomacy and pacification, was reflected in messages of condolence that came from countries at opposite ends of bitter regional disputes, from Saudi Arabia to Iran. Kuwait entered a solemn 40-day period of mourning on Wednesday to commemorate the leader’s life and death.
Sheikh Nawaf took office as the new ruler of Kuwait in the Parliament building before rows of applauding lawmakers, dressed in their traditional white robes and surgical masks due to the pandemic. He bowed slightly, touching his head with his hands in respect. In a low voice, he made a short speech in which he paid tribute to his late half-brother and vowed to “preserve the safety of Kuwait.”
“Kuwait throughout its history has faced serious and difficult challenges, which we have managed to overcome through joint cooperation,” Sheikh Nawaf said, reading the prepared remarks. “Today, our beloved country also faces risks and challenges that there is no way to avoid except through unity.”
After the ceremony, Sheikh Nawaf, in his loose robe, got into a black Mercedes as groups of soldiers energetically saluted.
Sheikh Nawaf’s rise to the throne marked a political career that spanned from interior minister to defense minister, dating back to 1991, when US troops and their allies invaded Kuwait.
Sheikh Nawaf briefly served as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor after the war, then as Deputy Chief of the Kuwaiti National Guard, and again as Minister of the Interior. He became the Crown Prince of Sheikh Sabah in February 2006, but was not known for making important political decisions while serving as Crown Prince.
.
