Kuwait names Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah as new emir

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah has been named as the successor to his half-brother Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, according to an announcement from the Kuwaiti cabinet.

Sheikh Nawaf was appointed Crown Prince in 2006, the same year Sheikh Sabah was appointed emir.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (R), Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (L) stand on the steps of the Parliament building October 30, 2006. (Reuters)

Under Kuwait’s constitution, each new crown prince must be approved by a majority in the country’s National Assembly.

Traditionally, the succession of the Emir and Crown Prince positions are limited to the descendants of Mubarak al-Sabah.

Sheikh Nawaf, 83, was previously the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Interior. After the 1990 invasion of Iraq, he became the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, a role he held until 1992. Between 1994 and 2003, Sheikh Nawaf was the deputy chief of the National Guard.

Earlier in July, the late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah authorized Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf to temporarily take over some responsibilities as Deputy Emir.