EDINBURGH, Scotland: Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim to lead a democratic western European nation, was sworn in as Scotland's new leader this week at Scotland's highest court, the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

His wife, watching with his children and parents, shed tears at the start of the ceremony.

The 37-year-old Yousaf then announced his new cabinet of six women and three men, who were mainly close allies of Scotland's former leader Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned last month after dominating Scottish politics for more than a decade.

"As we make the case for Scottish independence, we will continue to govern well and demonstrate to the people of Scotland the benefits of decisions about their lives being taken here in Scotland," he said.

The new leader faces numerous challenges, including uniting his party, charting a new course towards independence from the United Kingdom, and fixing Scotland's problems with healthcare and education.

Yousaf narrowly won a leadership race this week after a bruising contest that followed the surprise resignation last month of Sturgeon.

The internal disagreements over the future of the pro-independence Scottish National Party and Scotland re-emerged after Yousaf's main rival, Kate Forbes, quit the government.

During his leadership campaign, Yousaf had said he would depart from Sturgeon's "inner circle" style of leadership, in favour of a "big tent" approach.