KUWAIT CITY: The emir of oil-rich Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, died on Saturday (Dec 16), the royal court docket stated, after three years in energy. He was 86.
“With nice unhappiness and sorrow, we mourn … the loss of life of Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” stated an announcement aired on Kuwaiti state tv.
State tv had minimize its common programming and switched to a broadcast of Koranic recital earlier than the announcement.
In November, Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to the hospital “resulting from an emergency well being drawback”, based on the official KUNA information company, which didn’t elaborate on his sickness. He was later declared in secure situation.
Given his age, his well being has generally been a priority throughout his time period.
Sheikh Nawaf was named crown prince in 2006 by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and took over as emir when Sheikh Sabah died in September 2020 on the age of 91.
He needed to steer the financial system via a disaster brought on by a fall in oil costs in 2020.
The present crown prince, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, one other half-brother, is 83 and far consideration will now be targeted on whether or not a youthful technology ruler is introduced in by the household.
Kuwait – a conservative nation the place sovereign powers stay concentrated within the palms of the ruling Al Sabah household – is residence to probably the most energetic and highly effective parliament within the Gulf.
Kuwait – a conservative nation the place sovereign powers stay concentrated within the palms of the ruling Al Sabah household – is residence to probably the most energetic and highly effective parliament within the Gulf.
However repeated standoffs between elected lawmakers and cupboard ministers put in by the ruling household have stymied improvement efforts and scared off traders.
Following a succession of resigning governments and dissolved parliaments, Kuwait’s present cupboard is its fifth in a yr.
The political impasse has delayed obligatory reforms and blocked improvement initiatives, leaving infrastructure and training in disrepair and far of the inhabitants disgruntled.
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 began his political profession on the age of 25 as governor of Hawalli province, the place he remained till 1978 when he began a decade as inside minister.