Kuwait emir Sheikh Nawaf dies aged 86

He was succeeded by his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal, who takes over the oil-rich Gulf kingdom on the age of 83, state tv reported.

Sheikh Meshal, who had already assumed some key constitutional duties of the emir in 2021, has spent most of his profession in Kuwait’s safety and intelligence equipment, preserving a distance from the customarily bitter disputes throughout the royal household.

His predecessor’s reign was brief however tumultuous, marked by deep political turmoil and financial challenges triggered by a fall in oil costs which have left Kuwait lagging its rich Gulf neighbours, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

State TV lower its common programming and switched to a broadcast of a Koranic recital earlier than saying Sheikh Nawaf’s loss of life.

“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 on state TV.

Public places of work will shut for 3 days and 40 days of mourning had been declared. 

Sheikh Nawaf, who shall be laid to relaxation on Sunday, had been hospitalised in November for an undisclosed “emergency”, however had been stated to be in a secure situation. 

The “clean and orderly succession course of…is an affidavit to (Kuwait’s) mature political system,” Abdullah Al Shayji, a political science professor at Kuwait College stated on social media. 

– ‘Religious, modest’ –

Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf took over as emir in September 2020 upon the loss of life of one other half-brother, Sheikh Sabah, on the age of 91.

Kuwait, a conservative nation the place sovereign powers are concentrated within the palms of the ruling Al Sabah household, is dwelling to essentially the most lively and highly effective parliament within the Gulf.

However repeated standoffs between elected lawmakers and cupboard ministers put in by the ruling household have hindered growth efforts and discouraged traders.

Sheikh Nawaf’s rule noticed three parliamentary elections in as a few years, and there have been 5 completely different authorities cupboards in 2023.

The political impasse has delayed mandatory reforms and blocked growth tasks, leaving infrastructure and training in disrepair and far of the inhabitants disgruntled.

Sheikh Nawaf issued quite a few amnesties for political prisoners, incomes him the title “emir of pardons”. 

He’ll “be remembered for his distinctive private attributes: gentle spoken, religious, modest, low profile”, stated Bader al-Saif, a historical past professor at Kuwait College.

There have been condolences from all over the world.

“He served his nation for six a long time and fulfilled his responsibility with all sincerity,” stated Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, on X, previously Twitter.

Saudi Arabia’s royal courtroom stated the dominion “and its folks share the sorrows of their brothers within the State of Kuwait”

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani referred to as his passing “painful” and Oman stated it will observe three days of mourning. 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak referred to as the sheikh “an incredible buddy of the UK” and an announcement by the Kremlin stated “he had nice authority within the Center East.”

– ‘Insider-Outsider’ –

A father of 12, Sheikh Meshal turns into Kuwait’s seventeenth ruler. He may have a 12 months to call a brand new crown prince amid hypothesis on whether or not he’ll appoint an inheritor from a youthful era.

The selection of crown prince will replicate “inside ruling household dynamics,” stated al-Saif.

“Whether or not Kuwait witnesses its first generational shift in a long time or not… the nation might want to ship on numerous fronts.”

Meshal was deputy chief of the Kuwait Nationwide Guard from 2004 to 2020, and was named crown prince when Sheikh Nawaf took energy.

He spent a few years within the inside ministry, rising by way of the ranks to go the division of normal investigation from 1967 till 1980 the place he was credited for strengthening its perform as a state safety service.

“With a profession within the safety bureau and nationwide guard, Sheikh Meshal is an insider-outsider,” stated al-Saif on X, previously Twitter.

“He was ‘within the room’ shut to three of the earlier 4 emirs on day by day issues with out” being in authorities, he stated. 

In 2016, Sheikh Meshal travelled overseas and underwent a “profitable operation”, however particulars of the therapy weren’t disclosed. 

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Initially printed as Kuwait emir Sheikh Nawaf dies aged 86