Kuwait emir Sheikh Nawaf dies, crown prince Meshal al-Ahmad to take over reins

Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the ruling emir of Kuwait died on Saturday owing to an illness, the royal court said in a statement.

“With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” said a statement aired on state television.

The channel had cut its regular programming and switched to a broadcast of a Koranic recital before the announcement.

Last month Sheikh Nawaf, 86, was hospitalised due to an “emergency health problem”. However, details of his illness were not made public. State-backed KUNA news agency had earlier said that he was in stable condition.

Kuwait’s crown prince, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has been named the oil-rich country’s new emir after the death of his predecessor Sheikh Nawaf, state television reported.

“Kuwait’s cabinet names crown prince, his highness Sheikh Meshal… emir of the state of Kuwait,” the broadcaster said.

Sheikh Nawaf ascended to the role of crown prince in 2006, appointed by his half-brother Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He assumed the position of emir upon Sheikh Sabah’s death in September 2020 at the age of 91.

With inputs from AFP