Crown Prince
Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has issued a decree appointing Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah as the crown prince, as reported by the state news agency KUNA on Saturday.
The decree, effective immediately upon issuance, will be published in the Official Gazette, according to KUNA.
Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid, previously serving as Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022, faced challenges with a combative legislature during his tenure.
He resigned amid opposition scrutiny, including inquiries into perceived corruption issues.
Kuwait’s elected assembly holds considerable power compared to similar bodies in Gulf monarchies, including the authority to pass laws, question ministers, and initiate no-confidence motions against senior officials.
Before his premiership, Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid served as foreign minister for approximately eight years starting in 2011, having held various ministerial portfolios since 2006. Born in Kuwait in 1953, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kuwait University in 1977.
In other developments, Kuwait formed a new cabinet led by Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, as per a royal decree issued by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Emad al-Atiqi, Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf, and Abdullah Ali al-Yahya retained their positions as oil, finance, and foreign ministers, respectively.
Sheikh Ahmad, the Emir’s nephew, previously served as prime minister and has now assumed the role again. The decree mandates the Prime Minister and ministers to adhere to its directives.
The formation of the new government follows the Emir’s decision to dissolve parliament indefinitely on Friday, following a period of prolonged disputes between the government and the elected assembly.
