Nawaf al-Ahmad takes oath as emir of Kuwait

ISTANBUL

Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was sworn in as emir of Kuwait on Wednesday, succeeding the late Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

According to the state television, Nawaf al-Ahmad took oath as the country’s new ruler before the National Assembly (parliament), in the presence of members of the legislative and executive authorities and several senior sheikhs and figures in the country.

"I pledge to God and the people, and I pledge to you that I will spare no effort to serve the security and stability of Kuwait,” Sheikh Nawaf said after taking oath as the 16th emir of Kuwait.

"Our nation today is facing sensitive circumstances and serious challenges that can't be overcome without our unity and joint efforts,” he said.

The new ruler added that, “We confirm our pride with our constitution and our democratic approach, as a country that respects law and institutions”.

According to the Kuwaiti constitution, the crown prince assumes the position of emir when it is vacant.

Sheikh Nawaf, 83, succeeded Sheikh Sabah, who passed away Tuesday in the US, where he was receiving treatment.

Born on June 25, 1937 in Kuwait city, Sheikh Nawaf is the 6th son of the 10th Kuwaiti ruler, Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah who ruled the Gulf country between 1921 and 1950.

According to the official website of the Crown Prince court, Sheikh Nawaf was named a crown prince on Feb. 7, 2006.

Before taking this post, he served as the first deputy prime minister and interior minister since October 16, 2003, where he was considered the real founder of the ministry. He had also served as interior minister between March 1978 and January 1988.

In October 1994, he served as the deputy head of the Kuwaiti National Guards where he contributed to the development of the Kuwaiti armed forces.

Sheikh Nawaf also served as a minister of social affairs and labour in the first Kuwaiti government formed after liberating Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in April 1991. In 1988, he took the position of the defense minister.

Observers expect that Sheikh Nawaf's political approach will not be different from his late brother, Sheikh Sabah, who led his country since January 29, 2006 with a balanced and moderate diplomacy for achieving regional peace and bridging differences between the Arab countries.

*Ahmed Asmar and Mahmoud Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara