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NEW DELHI: Kuwait’s ruling emir, the 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died on Saturday, state television reported.
Kuwait TV broke into programming with Quranic verses just before making the announcement.
“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 Kuwaiti state television.
Sheikh Nawaf was sent to the hospital in late November due to an undisclosed ailment.The small, oil-rich country has been waiting for updates on his health in the meantime. He visited the US in March 2021, according to a prior report from state-run media, for unidentified medical examinations.
The Middle Eastern country of Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq and has had internal power battles behind closed doors, continues to be sensitive about the health of its leaders.
Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir after the 2020 death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. The breadth and depth of emotion over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his diplomacy and peacemaking, was felt across the region.
Sheikh Nawaf previously served as Kuwait’s interior and defense minister but wasn’t seen as particularly active in government outside those terms. However, he was largely an uncontroversial choice for emir, though his advancing age led analysts to suggest his tenure would be short.
Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is believed to be the world’s oldest crown prince. He is in line to take over as Kuwait’s ruler.
Kuwait — a conservative country where sovereign powers remain concentrated in the hands of the ruling Al Sabah family — is home to the most active and powerful parliament in the Gulf.
But repeated standoffs between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers installed by the ruling family have stymied development efforts and scared off investors.
In a year marked by successive resignations from government and dissolution of parliament, Kuwait is on its fifth administration in as many years.
Due to the political impasse, development projects and essential reforms have been delayed, resulting in deteriorating infrastructure and education and dissatisfied citizens in large numbers.
Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler from 1921 to 1950 Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
He started his political career at the age of 25 as governor of Hawalli province, where he remained until 1978 when he started a decade as interior minister.
(With inputs from agencies)
Kuwait TV broke into programming with Quranic verses just before making the announcement.
“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 Kuwaiti state television.
Sheikh Nawaf was sent to the hospital in late November due to an undisclosed ailment.The small, oil-rich country has been waiting for updates on his health in the meantime. He visited the US in March 2021, according to a prior report from state-run media, for unidentified medical examinations.
The Middle Eastern country of Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq and has had internal power battles behind closed doors, continues to be sensitive about the health of its leaders.
Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir after the 2020 death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. The breadth and depth of emotion over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his diplomacy and peacemaking, was felt across the region.
Sheikh Nawaf previously served as Kuwait’s interior and defense minister but wasn’t seen as particularly active in government outside those terms. However, he was largely an uncontroversial choice for emir, though his advancing age led analysts to suggest his tenure would be short.
Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is believed to be the world’s oldest crown prince. He is in line to take over as Kuwait’s ruler.
Kuwait — a conservative country where sovereign powers remain concentrated in the hands of the ruling Al Sabah family — is home to the most active and powerful parliament in the Gulf.
But repeated standoffs between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers installed by the ruling family have stymied development efforts and scared off investors.
In a year marked by successive resignations from government and dissolution of parliament, Kuwait is on its fifth administration in as many years.
Due to the political impasse, development projects and essential reforms have been delayed, resulting in deteriorating infrastructure and education and dissatisfied citizens in large numbers.
Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler from 1921 to 1950 Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
He started his political career at the age of 25 as governor of Hawalli province, where he remained until 1978 when he started a decade as interior minister.
(With inputs from agencies)
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