Kuwait to retain secretary-general position at GCC after current chief's term ends

Kuwait will look to replace the current chief of the GCC as the regional group agreed to another Kuwaiti taking over the position.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff

09 December, 2022

Al-Hajraf's term as the GCC's secretary-general will not be extended [Getty/archive]

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday approved a request from Kuwait to keep hold of the council's secretary-general office, a day after reports said that the organisation's current chief, a Kuwaiti, will be replaced.

"The Supreme Council approved the desire of Kuwait to retain the position of Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council for a second term, starting from the end of the current term of Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf on January 31, 2023," read a final communique at the end of the 43rd GCC summit held in Riyadh.

The council expressed its "deep appreciation" for Al-Hajraf’s efforts during his tenure. He was appointed secretary-general of the GCC on 1 February 2020.

Kuwait’s Al-Qabas newspaper reported Thursday that Al-Hajraf was informed during a meeting of Gulf foreign ministers a day earlier that his three-year term would not be renewed.

It is not yet clear why Kuwait has decided to replace him.

Al-Hajraf previously held the positions of education minister and finance minister in Kuwait.