The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah has died

He died at the age of 86 emir of KuwaitSheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, according to the palace announcement,

Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has died just three years and a half after taking power in the oil-producing Gulf nation and US ally.

His cause of death is not yet known. The emir was admitted to the hospital at the end of November due to an emergency medical problem, as the state news agency reported at the time, but said he was in a stable condition.

Crown Prince Sheikh Messal Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, who has been Kuwait’s de facto leader since 2021, when the emir handed over most of his duties, is set to succeed him.

Who was the Emir of Kuwait Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah

Sheikh Nawaf became emir in September 2020 following the death of his brother Sheikh Sabah, who had ruled for over a decade and shaped the country’s foreign policy for more than 50 years.

Sheikh Nawaf was seen by diplomats as a consensus-building politician even though his rule was marked by a bitter standoff between the government and the elected parliament, which had blocked major structural reforms in the oil-rich Gulf country.

In recent months, consensus has returned between the government and parliament.

Kuwait, whose oil reserves are the seventh largest in the world, borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and is across the Gulf from Iran.

After taking office in 2020, Sheikh Nawaf continued the same foreign policy of balancing relations with these neighboring countries, while at home eight governments were formed under his leadership.

Under the Kuwaiti Constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes an emir, but takes power only after being sworn in by parliament. The new emir has one year to appoint a successor.