Kuwait recently named its oldest Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, as its new emir, i.e., ruler, after the death of their former ruler, Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, on December 16. Sheikh Meshal is the half-brother of the late Emir Sheikh Nawaf. He was named as the present Emir of Kuwait which was announced by the deputy prime minister and minister of state for cabinet affairs.
Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, the New Emir of Kuwait
Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, 83, the recently appointed Emir, was the crown prince of Kuwait before he was named as the de facto sovereign of the country. According to Kuwait’s constitution, the crown prince becomes emir once the previous emir becomes incapacitated. Sheikh Nawaf had already started to hand over most of his duties to Sheikh Meshal because of his failing health. This new emir will assume power after taking an oath in parliament and will have up to a year to name the new Crown Prince.
Role of Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber when he was the Crown Prince:
When Crown Prince Nawaf became emir upon the death of his half-brother Sabah on September 29, 2020, he selected his half-brother Meshal as the new crown prince within 8 days. Upon assuming his role at the age of 80, Meshal became the oldest crown prince in the world. He was also expected to assume a larger role than all the previous Crown Princes due to the emir’s advanced age. However, he successfully completed all his duties.
On September 2, 2021, Meshal, in place of Nawaf, met with US Vice President Kamala Harris and discussed US-Kuwait bilateral relations and the role Kuwait played in the evacuation of Afghanistan. He has also represented Kuwait abroad at important events like the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the wedding of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, in 2023. However, as emir, his capabilities will be tested further as he will have to grapple with long-running strains between the ruling family and its critics in the perpetually deadlocked and fractious parliament that critics say have hindered fiscal and economic reform.
Challenge before Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber as the new emir of Kuwait:
One challenge that already lies before this new emir is that of choosing a new Crown Prince. The Crown Prince will be the heir to the Emir of Kuwait’s throne, and this position can only be held by the descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, who must be designated within a year of the Emir’s accession.
Analysts and diplomats have both observed that Sheikh Nawaf and his crown prince, Sheikh Meshal, have appeared to make Kuwait more like Saudi Arabia and make them align. The new emir and the crown prince, who will be chosen, will be watched closely as younger generations of Kuwait’s ruling family struggle for positions in the politics of the country.
Along with this, another problem is that those from Sheikh Nawaf’s lifetime have been fading away with age. As other Gulf Arab nations put younger rulers in power, it has increasingly put more pressure on the Al Sabah to pass power onto the next generation. Sheikh Meshal, who has recently been named the new emir of Kuwait, is one of the last few octogenarian leaders that the country has. Thus, the age and health of Kuwait’s leaders have become sensitive matters in the country.
