KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Sunday signed an Amiri order officially appointing HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as the new Crown Prince. The move came after the Council of Ministers endorsed HH the Amir’s nomination of HH Sheikh Sabah. HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled took the oath to become the Crown Prince during an extraordinary session of the Cabinet. He was congratulated by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and the entire Cabinet.

HH the Amir on Sunday hosted HH the Crown Prince, who took the constitutional oath to become the Deputy Amir during his absence overseas. HH Sheikh Mishal congratulated HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled and wished him success in serving Kuwait and its people in pushing development and progress forward.

HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah expressed gratitude to HH the Amir for nominating him as Crown Prince, voicing his great pride and deep appreciation for this great honor. He vowed he will work to serve the country and its people and expressed determination to fulfil responsibilities outlined by the country’s leadership, wishing Kuwait and its people continuous progress and development.

HH the Crown Prince, a graduate of political science from Kuwait University, began his career as a senior employee in the ministry of foreign affairs. In 2006, he took his first ministerial post as minister of social affairs and labor and later became information minister, and then justice and Islamic affairs minister. In 2011, he was appointed foreign minister, until 2019, when he was appointed prime minister. A large number of politicians including several former MPs congratulated HH the Crown Prince and hailed his appointment.

The Kuwaiti constitution states that upon nomination by HH the Amir, the Crown Prince must be approved by the National Assembly and then he should take the oath in the Assembly. But the National Assembly has been dissolved and parts of the constitution frozen for four years by HH the Amir. Under the Kuwaiti constitution, succession is restricted to the descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Kabeer, who ruled Kuwait between 1896 and 1915.