Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah dies at 86

Kuwait: Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday, as announced by the royal court.

 The exact cause of his death has not been immediately disclosed.

Last month, the emir was admitted to the hospital due to an emergency health issue, though the state news agency reported that he was in stable condition.

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, who has effectively governed Kuwait since 2021 when the emir delegated most of his duties due to frailty, is the designated successor.

Sheikh Nawaf assumed the position of emir in September 2020 following the passing of his brother, Sheikh Sabah, who had wielded significant influence over the state's foreign policy for more than 50 years.

Diplomats characterized Sheikh Nawaf as a consensus builder, despite his reign being marked by a tense standoff between the government and the elected parliament, hindering crucial structural reforms in the oil-rich Gulf state. Recent months, however, witnessed a return to consensus between the government and parliament.

 

 

 

 

 

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Kuwait, home to the world's seventh-largest oil reserves, shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and is strategically situated across the Gulf from Iran. Since assuming office in 2020, Sheikh Nawaf maintained a foreign policy that sought to balance relationships with neighboring nations. Domestically, eight governments were formed under his rule.

As per Kuwait's constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes the emir but officially assumes power after taking an oath in parliament. The new emir has up to a year to appoint a successor, marking a crucial period of transition for the nation.