Devendra Kumar
Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s ruling emir, has passed away at the age of 86 after a three-year reign. The news was announced on state television, with a somber official reading a brief statement mourning the late emir’s death. Sheikh Nawaf’s half-brother, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, 83, has been named as the new emir.
Kuwait has been waiting for news on Sheikh Nawaf’s health since he was rushed to a hospital for an unspecified illness in late November. Prior to his illness, Kuwait had been dealing with issues of succession, as those from Sheikh Nawaf’s lifetime, born before oil transformed Kuwait into a petrostate, are fading away with age. This has put pressure on the Al Sabah family to pass power onto the next generation.
Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir in 2020 following the death of his predecessor, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. He previously served as Kuwait’s interior and defense minister, overseeing the rapid collapse of his forces during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He faced widespread criticism for his decisions during the war, including allegations that he ordered tank crews not to fire on approaching Iraqi forces.
Under Sheikh Nawaf’s rule, Kuwait focused on domestic issues, including the overhaul of the country’s welfare system and the avoidance of debt. He also issued a long-awaited amnesty decree in 2021, pardoning and reducing the sentences of nearly three dozen Kuwaiti dissidents.
Sheikh Nawaf was known for his low-key approach to government, which analysts viewed as not particularly active, but which appealed to some Kuwaitis. He faced a demotion and did not hold a Cabinet-level position for about a decade after the invasion, instead serving as a deputy chief of the country’s National Guard.
Despite his controversial past, Sheikh Nawaf earned a reputation as “the emir of pardons” for his efforts to reach out to dissidents and resolve political impasses. Kuwait is perceived as having the Gulf’s freest parliament, allowing for dissent and debate.
The death of Sheikh Nawaf has been met with condolences from around the world, including from US President Joe Biden, who called him a “valued partner and true friend” of the United States. The new emir, Sheikh Meshal, is now one of the Gulf Arab countries’ last octogenarian leaders, and Kuwait will look to him to continue its path of stability and reform.