Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah was sworn in as Kuwait’s new Emir, on Wednesday, before the country’s National Assembly.
He succeeds the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away on Tuesday.
After taking the oath of office, Sheikh Nawaf, 83, pledged to work for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country’s prosperity, stability and security.
During his first speech as Emir, Sheikh Nawaf said that Kuwait faces several difficult and delicate situations and dangerous challenges which cannot be overcome, except through unity and the concerted efforts of the country’s citizens.
He said that “the precious confidence that the people of Kuwait have entrusted in us will be guarded with our lives”.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi congratulated Sheikh Nawaf on his swearing in as Emir.
Presidency Spokesperson, Bassam Rady, said that Al-Sisi has extended his wishes for Emir Nawaf’s success in completing the construction and development process started by the late Sheikh Sabah.
Al-Sisi also asserted the strong and extensive ties between Egypt and Kuwait, whilst expressing the former’s keenness to further enhance the existing cooperation between both countries. The Egyptian president noted that this will achieve many benefits for both the Egyptian and Kuwaiti peoples, whilst also serving the Arab and Islamic causes.
Following the death of Sheikh Sabah on Tuesday, Kuwait’s cabinet named Sheikh Nawaf, as the country’s new ruler.
Sheikh Nawaf was nominated as Crown Prince in February 2006, having previously been assigned as the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior in 2003. He has also served as Minister of Defence.
Meanwhile, the remains of Sheikh Sabah will arrive in Kuwait City, later on Wednesday, from the US where he had been seeking medical treatment since July.
According to Kuwait’s Royal Court, the funeral will be “restricted to the Emir’s relatives”, avoiding large crowds due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The country has already begun a 40-day period of national mourning for Sheikh Sabah’s passing.
