Sheikh Nawaf, 83, served as the crown prince since 2006 and is the brother of the late emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, whose death was announced on Tuesday.
Born June 25, 1937, Sheikh Nawaf became governor of Kuwait’s Hawalli region at the age of 25.In 1978 he became the country’s interior minister, a position he held for nearly a decade.
Sheikh Nawaf’s moved to become Kuwait’s defense minister in 1988 and was in the role in 1990, when Saddam Hussein ordered his forces to invade Kuwait from Iraq.
“Our citizens inside Kuwait are disobeying orders and not following instructions and they are being mistreated,” Sheikh Nawaf said at the time of the seven-month occupation.
He also served as the deputy National Guard commander from 1994 to 2003.As interior minister, Sheikh Nawaf negotiated in 1980 an end to the hijacking of a Boeing 727 heading from Beirut to Kuwait City. The hijackers ultimately gave up the plane without harming any passengers on board.
He briefly served as social affairs and labor minister after the Iraq war and again as interior minister.
News Published by Arab News
In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al Saleh, on behalf of the Cabinet, prayed for mercy on the soul of the deceased.
The Cabinet prays for the success of the new ruler in his efforts to ensure the security and growth of the country, added the statement.
Kuwait’s new Emir will be sworn in on 30th September 2020 Wednesday at 11am local time.
News Published by Khaleej Times
