Kuwait’s ruling emir Sheikh Nawaf dies aged 86 three years after taking power – with 83-year-old crown prince next in line to take over
Kuwait's ruling emir, 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died, the country's state television reported today.
Kuwait TV broke programming with verses from the Koran just before the announcement.
In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to hospital due to an unspecified illness.
Since then, the small, oil-rich country has been waiting for news about his health.
State News previously reported that he traveled to the United States in March 2021 for unspecified medical checks.
Kuwait's ruling emir, 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died, the country's state television reported today.
Kuwait, a country of about 4.2 million people and slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, has the sixth largest known oil reserves in the world. In the photo: Today the flags are lowered to half-mast
In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to hospital due to an unspecified illness. Since then, the small, oil-rich country has been waiting for news about his health
The health of Kuwait's leaders remains a sensitive issue in the Middle East, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, where internal power struggles have taken place behind palace doors.
Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as Emir following the death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, in 2020.
The breadth and depth of emotions over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his diplomacy and peacemaking, was palpable across the region.
Sheikh Nawaf previously served as Kuwait's interior and defense minister, but was not seen as particularly active in government outside those terms.
However, he was largely an uncontroversial choice for emir, although his increasing age led analysts to suggest that his tenure would be short-lived.
Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is considered the world's oldest crown prince. He is about to take power as ruler of Kuwait.
Kuwait, a country of about 4.2 million people and slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, has the sixth largest known oil reserves in the world.
The country has been a staunch ally of the US since the 1991 Gulf War ousted Saddam Hussein's occupying Iraqi forces.
Kuwait hosts approximately 13,500 U.S. troops in the country, as well as the forward headquarters of the U.S. military in the Middle East.