Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed Kuwait's ruler after the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who died at age 91. Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is an elder statesman who has held high office for decades but earned a reputation for being modest and low-key.
83-year-old Sheikh Nawaf was defence minister when Iraqi troops rolled into the oil-rich emirate in 1990. He also served as interior minister in the face of challenges from Islamist militants.
He was named heir apparent in 2006 by Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who took charge of Kuwait after parliament voted his predecessor out of office.
Sheikh Nawaf, who assumes power as Kuwait struggles with the coronavirus pandemic isn't expected to deviate from the diplomatic path charted by the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. The virus has caused oil prices to drop and put a strain on its economy.
A contentious battle is on to see who the leader may name as his successor, as Sheikh Nawaf is being viewed as a ‘caretaker’ owing to his age. Following the liberation of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf served as minister for social affairs and labour. In 1992, however, he was excluded from the government formed after the first post-war election.
Sheikh Nawaf was deputy commander of the national guard in 1994 and in 2003 he was made interior minister. Sheikh Sabah's son and former deputy prime minister Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, a political heavyweight are contestants for the role of crown prince left vacant by Sheikh Nawaf.