The ruling emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has passed away.
The royal court announced that Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.
His demise follows a three-year period in power marked by consistent political disputes.
‘With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,’ said a statement aired on state television.
The channel had cut its regular programming and switched to a broadcast of a Koranic recital before the announcement.
In November, Sheikh Nawaf was hospitalised “due to an emergency health problem”, according to the official KUNA news agency. It did not provide details about his illness, but he was later declared to be in stable condition.
Given his age, concerns about his health were commonplace during his rule.
Sheikh Nawaf became crown prince in 2006, appointed by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Following Sheikh Sabah’s death in September 2020 at the age of 91, Sheikh Nawaf assumed the position of emir.
Sheikh Nawaf tackled the challenge in 2020 of navigating the economy through a crisis prompted by a decline in oil prices.
Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, another half-brother, currently holds the position of crown prince and is 83 years old.
Currently, attention is focused on whether the family will designate a ruler from the younger generation.
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About 14 months after becoming emir, Sheikh Nawaf handed over key constitutional responsibilities to Sheikh Mishal.
Sheikh Nawaf’s reign, though not the shortest in Kuwait’s history, was notable for issuing numerous amnesties, earning him the title “emir of pardons”, according to Bader al-Saif, an assistant professor of history at Kuwait University.
Kuwait’s Council of Ministers approved a draft royal decree last month, proposing pardons for political prisoners convicted in the past decade. Similar pardons were granted in 2021.
Saif highlighted that Sheikh Nawaf’s distinctive personal traits—being soft-spoken, devout, modest, and low-profile—will be remembered.
Home to the most active and powerful parliament in the Gulf, Kuwait is a conservative country where sovereign powers are concentrated in the ruling Al Sabah family.
Frequent standoffs between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers appointed by the ruling family have obstructed development efforts and discouraged potential investors.
Following a series of resigning governments and dissolved parliaments, Kuwait’s current cabinet represents the fifth within the past year.
During Sheikh Nawaf’s reign, the Gulf country underwent three parliamentary elections in as many years.
The persistent political deadlock has hindered much-needed reforms, obstructed development projects, and resulted in the neglect of infrastructure and education, leaving a disgruntled population.
Sheikh Nawaf, born in 1937, was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who reigned from 1921 to 1950.
Beginning his political career at the age of 25, Sheikh Nawaf served as the governor of Hawalli province until 1978. He subsequently held the position of interior minister for a decade.