Kuwait King Obituary News: Emir Sheikh Nawaf, Kuwait King Dies At 86
Kuwait King Obituary: The emir of oil-rich Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has gone away. It was announced today, Saturday, December 16, 2023, that Emir Sheikh Nawaf has passed away. He passed away at 86 years old.
“With great sadness and sorrow, we—the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world—mourn the late His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord today.” Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Sabah, the minister of his emiri court, read the brief statement.
Sheikh Nawaf was hospitalized in late November for a medical condition that was not disclosed. The tiny, oil-rich nation had been eagerly awaiting word on his whereabouts ever since.
Sheikh Nawaf had already had unidentified medical examinations in the United States in March 2021, according to reports from state-run news. The condition of Kuwait’s leaders’ health is a sensitive matter in this Middle Eastern country, which is sandwiched between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. There have been reports of internal power struggles occurring behind the palace walls.
About Emir Sheikh Nawaf
Following the passing of his predecessor, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who was well-known for his diplomatic endeavors, Sheikh Nawaf took over as emir in 2020. Formerly serving as Kuwait’s interior and defense minister, Sheikh Nawaf had to deal with internal issues like political squabbles and the reform of the welfare system, which limited the sheikhdom’s capacity to incur debt.
Oil deposits produced significant money, but there were budgetary limits that made it impossible to pay public sector salaries. Sheikh Nawaf defused government standoffs in 2021 by announcing amnesty orders for Kuwaiti dissidents. Restoring relations with GCC states allowed Kuwait, which has the most democratic parliament in the Gulf, to concentrate on internal matters. Kuwait is home to American troops and the U.S. Army’s Middle East headquarters, making it a vital ally.