He guided a country in the Gulf with a lot of oil for three years. Al-Ahmad went to the hospital in November.
Sheikh Nawaf died at the age of 86
Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who led the country for three years, passed away at 86 on Saturday. The royal court shared the news with sadness, stating, “We mourn the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait.” The announcement was made on a Kuwaiti news channel that temporarily shifted from its regular programming to broadcast a recitation of the Holy Quran.
In November, Sheikh Nawaf was hospitalized for an urgent health issue, as reported by the official KUNA news agency. Although details about his illness were not disclosed, he was later declared to be in stable condition. Throughout his term, concerns about his health were common due to his age.
Sheikh Nawaf became the crown prince in 2006, appointed by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He assumed the role of emir in September 2020 after Sheikh Sabah’s passing at the age of 91. Sheikh Nawaf faced the challenge of managing the economy during the 2020 oil price drop.
The current crown prince, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, another half-brother of the late emir, is 83. Attention now turns to whether a ruler from the younger generation will be chosen by the family.
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Kuwait, a conservative country with a strong parliament, encounters difficulties due to conflicts between elected lawmakers and cabinet ministers. These conflicts have hindered development efforts and deterred investors. The country’s current political situation has led to multiple resignations of governments and dissolutions of parliaments, resulting in the fifth cabinet in a year.
The political stalemate has impeded necessary reforms and halted development projects, resulting in disrepair of infrastructure and education, causing dissatisfaction among the population.
Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Kuwait’s ruler from 1921 to 1950, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He entered politics at 25 as the governor of Hawalli province, a position he held until 1978, when he began a decade-long tenure as interior minister.