Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who had been in power for three years, passed away on Saturday, as announced by the royal court. He was 86. “With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” reported news agency AFP, citing a statement broadcast on Kuwaiti state television.
As per the report, the state television interrupted its regular programming to broadcast a recital of the Quran before making the announcement.
In November, Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to the hospital due to an emergency health problem, as reported by AFP citing the official KUNA news agency. However, details regarding his illness were not disclosed, and he was later declared to be in stable condition.
Given his age, concerns about his health were frequently raised during his tenure.
Sheikh Nawaf became the crown prince in 2006, appointed by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He assumed the role of emir in September 2020 following the death of Sheikh Sabah at the age of 91.
During his term, Sheikh Nawaf faced the challenge of steering the economy through a crisis caused by a significant fall in oil prices in 2020.
The current crown prince, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, another half-brother, is 83. The attention now turns to whether the ruling family will bring in a younger generation ruler.
Kuwait, a conservative country where sovereign powers are concentrated within the ruling Al Sabah family, hosts the most active and powerful parliament in the Gulf. However, frequent standoffs between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers appointed by the ruling family have hindered development efforts and deterred investors.
The current political deadlock has led to repeated resignations of governments and dissolved parliaments, resulting in Kuwait’s fifth cabinet in a year.
This political impasse has delayed essential reforms, blocked development projects, and left infrastructure and education in disrepair, causing dissatisfaction among a significant portion of the population.
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 commenced his political career at the age of 25 as the governor of Hawalli province, holding the position until 1978 when he began a decade-long tenure as interior minister.