Shaikh Mishal proclaimed new Emir

His Highness Shaikh Mishal AI Ahmad Al Jaber al Sabah has been proclaimed the State of Kuwait's new Emir to become the country's 17th ruler, in line with the Emirate's Succession Law, succeeding the late Emir Shaikh Nawaf AI Ahmad Al Jaber al Sabah (may Allah bless his soul). HH Shaikh Mishal has been declared the Emir of the State of Kuwait following a regular process of succession to the Emir's post, a recurrence of the power transfer by the previous top rulers.

The newly-proclaimed Emir is one of the extraordinary men who were raised by the gracious AI Sabah Family, learning leadership skills from the sagacious seniors and the family's shrewd politicians.

Shaikh Mishal, over the past three years, was the trusted top supporter of HH the Emir, partaking in decision-making, taking over the state leadership in his absence, bearing part of the responsibilities' heavy burden, leading the country to be among the developed states, bolstering its security and prosperity. The freshly-designated State of Kuwait Emir had served in several security and military posts, including senior positions in the Ministry of Interior, the National Guards and representing the top rulers on official occasions and during various diplomatic and political missions.

Shaikh Mishal, born in Kuwait in 1940, is the seventh son of Kuwait's 10th euler Shaikh Ahmad Al Jaber AI Mubarak aI Sabah who governed the country between 1921 and 1950. In his early childhood, he was taught reading and writing by his parents and some seniors in the family before joining AI Mubarakiya School, the first private school in Kuwait at the time. He continued higher level studies in the UK where he graduated from Hendon Police College in 1960. After returning home, he joined the freshly-established Ministry of Interior.

In 1987, he was appointed public inspection chief with a colonel's rank and remained in the department for up to 20 years occupying diverse posts. On April 13, 2004, Shaikh Mishal was appointed according to an Emiri Decree the Deputy Chief of the National Guards with a Minister's Degree, where he contributed to overhauling this sensitive security apparatus and enhanced its role in maintaining national security.

Shaikh Mishal had repeatedly affirmed the National Guards' keenness to back the army, the police and the fire force for defending and maintaining the country's security and stability as well as securing the key installations. On October 8, 2020, Shaikh Mishal was proclaimed as the State Crown Prince during a special session of the National Assembly, where he took the constitutional oath in front of the MPs after a swearing-in ceremony in front of the late Emir, according to the Emirate Succession Law and Kuwait Constitution.

Addressing the MPs, Shaikh Mishal said during the session that public participation would be part of his ruling policy, and pledged to boost a spirit of amity, tolerance and divisions' renunciation among the citizens. He also vowed to ensure a bright future for Kuwait with a democracy of stability, placing the national interests above all other considerations based on the Constitution and justice.

Shaikh Mishal has always advocated bolstering the cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities to attain the aspired goals, taking agile steps for attaining objectives of the sagacious leadership and the Kuwaiti people and that is by development in the key sectors. Shaikh Mishal after the proclamation devoted much of his attention to local affairs, amid shutdowns witnessed throughout the world after the flare-up of the coronavirus. He followed up on measures to minimise the effects of the pandemic at the domestic level.

In this vein, he guided various authorities and associations to perform special tasks. Shaikh Mishal has regularly held meetings with ordinary citizens who would express complaints or talk about their needs.

At the Gulf level, Shaikh Mishal has adopted his predecessors' path, keenly cementing the relations with brotherly countries, cooperating with their leaders regarding regional issues, Arab and global affairs, namely the need to maintain security and stability in the Gulf and tackling occasional rifts among the regional countries. Also following the steps of his predecessors, Shaikh Mishal has maintained close relations with Arab states and his efforts at this level were tangibly fruitful, particularly concerning strengthening the Arabs' ranks. In addition to the posts he had occupied, Shaikh Mishal was granted honorary positions.

He was designated as an honorary chairperson of the Kuwait Aircraft Engineers and Pilots Association (1973-2017). Moreover, he was a co-founder and the honorary head of the Kuwait Association for Wireless Amateurs. In 1977, the late Emir Shaikh Jaber AI Ahmad AI Jaber al Sabah named Shaikh Mishal the chairman of AI Nabat Poets Diwaniya. On December 4, 2018, French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Barely, decorated him with the Legion of Honour Medal for his prime role in developing Kuwait and establishing solid ties with Paris.