SHORT SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE :
The Kuwaiti emir has appointed Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah as the country's next crown prince. Sheikh Sabah, 71, was the foreign affairs minister from 2011 to 2019 and prime minister until 2022. The appointment comes six months after Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the emir, assumed the throne and comes after recent elections, including the dissolution of parliament. With 7% of the world's oil reserves, Kuwait is having trouble weaning its economy off of its reliance on oil.
The emir of Kuwait appointed Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah as the next crown prince on Saturday, marking a significant political landmark. Only six months after Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah acquired the throne, the announcement by the official media came after weeks of political unrest that included the suspension of parliament.
Sheikh Sabah’s Political Career
The 71-year-old Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah has a long political career. From 2011 until 2019, he was Kuwait’s foreign minister, and in that time, he was crucial in managing the Gulf state’s foreign policy. He served as foreign minister before taking on the role of prime minister, which he kept until 2022. He is now regarded as an important figure in Kuwaiti politics due to his background and leadership in the government.
Recent Political Turbulence
Significant instability in politics has recently occurred in Kuwait. The 83-year-old emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved parliament and suspended several constitutional provisions in May, only six weeks following parliamentary elections. This choice was made as a part of larger initiatives to stabilize the administration and deal with enduring political difficulties.
The emir has created two separate governments since assuming the position of head of state in December, which is indicative of the continued difficulties in Kuwait’s political system. In contrast to other Gulf governments, Kuwait has a parliament with significant power, which frequently results in power battles between parliament and the royal family. Recurrent political crises have been caused by these ongoing disputes.
Economic Context
With almost 7% of the world’s oil reserves, Kuwait is home to one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Despite its richness, the nation has had trouble growing its economy outside the oil industry. Because of its reliance on oil earnings, it is sensitive to changes in the price of crude oil globally, which shows the need for economic reforms and diversification plans.
Future Prospects
The goal of Kuwait’s government in appointing Sheikh Sabah as crown prince is to provide stability and continuity in the country’s governance. His vast background in international relations and prior government service are expected to be highly helpful in helping Kuwait overcome its present difficulties and move in the direction of a more diversified economy.
READ ALSO : Halla Tómasdóttir Elected as Iceland’s New President
About the Author
