The emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, passed away on Saturday, December 16, at 86 years old, after a short but tumultuous reign. Kuwait’s crown prince, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was named the oil-rich country’s new emir, state television reported.
The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, passed away on Saturday, as announced by the royal court, marking the end of his three-year rule. He was 86.
A statement aired on Kuwaiti state television expressed, “With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait.”
In November, Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to the hospital “due to an emergency health problem,” as reported by the official KUNA news agency, which did not provide details about his illness. He was later declared to be in stable condition.
A Brief Yet Eventful Reign
Born in 1937 as the fifth son of Kuwait’s ruler from 1921 to 1950, Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Nawaf embarked on his political career at the age of 25 as the governor of Hawalli province. He continued in this role until 1978, after which he served as minister of interior for a decade.
Sheikh Nawaf served as Kuwait’s emir for three years but had been in prominent roles within the House of Sabah during the oil-rich state’s tumultuous rule. Notably, he was the minister of defense during Iraq’s invasion in 1990 and the minister of interior during the Kuwaiti security forces’ confrontation with Islamist militants in January 2005.
Despite these historical events, Sheikh Nawaf’s unassuming style kept him in favor. His public emotion was rare, notably during his formal swearing-in by the Gulf state’s national assembly in 2020.
Due to his age, concerns about Sheikh Nawaf’s health were common during his term. Named crown prince in 2006 by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Nawaf assumed the role of emir in September 2020 following Sheikh Sabah’s death at the age of 91.
Challenges in a Turbulent Era
As the minister of defense two years before the Iraqi occupation in 1991, Sheikh Nawaf played a key role during the seven-month occupation. After the liberation by a US-led international force, he was named minister for social affairs and was then excluded from the government formed after the first post-war election in 1992.
Sheikh Nawaf returned as deputy commander of the national guard in 1994 and resumed his role as minister of interior in 2003, marked by clashes with Islamic militants in January 2005.
Upon becoming emir, Sheikh Nawaf faced economic challenges in 2020 due to falling oil prices, resulting in Kuwait’s credit rating being downgraded by international agencies. He acknowledged the serious challenges in his inauguration speech and oversaw substantial government spending, doubling public debt in 18 months, to guide the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kuwait maintained a firm stance on Israel, in contrast to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, despite maintaining diplomatic relations with both Saudi Arabia and its regional rival, Iran.
Mohammed al-Faily, an expert in constitutional law at Kuwait University, described Sheikh Nawaf as generally calm but capable of making firm decisions when necessary.
The New Emir
Sheikh Meshal became Kuwait’s 17th ruler. The new emir, who had already assumed some key constitutional duties of the emir in 2021, has spent most of his career in Kuwait’s security and intelligence apparatus, keeping a distance from the often bitter disputes within the royal family. A father of 12, Sheikh Meshal will have a year to name a new crown prince amid speculation on whether he will appoint an heir from a younger generation.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
