The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, died on Saturday, December 16, at the age of 86, the emirate's court said, after a three-year term marked by repeated political conflicts the peak of this oil-rich Arabian-Persian Gulf country.
“It is with great sadness that we mourn the death of Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” said a statement broadcast on Kuwaiti state television. State television had previously interrupted its programs and broadcast verses from the Koran.
According to the official KUNA news agency, which did not provide details about his illness, the emir was hospitalized in November “due to an urgent health problem.” His condition was later listed as stable. Due to his age, his health was often a problem during his time in office.
An 83-year-old crown prince
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was appointed crown prince by his half-brother Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 2006 and took over as emir following his death at the age of 91 in September 2020.
Kuwait, a rich oil state in the Gulf, has been mired in a deep crisis between the executive and legislative branches for several years, dashing hopes for reforms.
The current crown prince, Mechaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir's half-brother, is 83 years old, and the question now arises as to whether the royal family will choose a younger leader. Kuwait, a conservative country where sovereignty remains in the hands of the Al-Sabah ruling family, is nevertheless home to the Gulf's most active and powerful parliament.
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