London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The news was officially announced by the state’s official, Amiri Diwan of Kuwait, the royal court, in an official statement read out on state television.
“With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” the statement read.
The late Sheikh of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jabar al-Sabah was rushed to the hospital in emergency in late November 2023.
He is set to be succeeded by his brother, the crown prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Late Emir of Kuwait:
Nawaf, who was born in 1937, is the fifth son of Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the ruler of the emirate and Kuwait for nearly three decades in the first half of the 20th century.
At the age of 25, he embarked on his political journey as the governor of Hawalli province, and subsequently held various high-ranking positions within the cabinet throughout his lifetime.
During Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he led the ministry of defense, and later assumed the roles of head of interior and social services ministries.
In 2006, his appointment as crown prince broke a long-standing tradition of alternating the throne between the al-Jaber and al-Salim clans within the royal family.
These two clans trace their lineage back to Jaber al-Sabah and Salim al-Sabah, who were former emirs. Their father, Sheikh Mubarak al-Sabah, is widely recognized as the founder of modern Kuwait. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, the rulers of the country must be direct descendants of Sheikh Mubarak.
In 2020, Nawaf assumed the role of the Gulf monarchy’s leader after the passing of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.
The Gulf monarchy possesses a parliament that is elected, however, the emir retains the position of head of state and holds authority over virtually all matters within the nation.
Following the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, the current Emir is Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is now 83 years old. He is believed to be the world’s oldest crown prince to take over the state.
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Monarchy Succession in Kuwait:
The process for selecting a new Emir in Kuwait involves the appointment of a crown prince by the new emir within one year from the date of his appointment. The majority of the members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly must then approve the appointment of the crown prince.
The new emir must be sworn in within eight days from the day the position of emir becomes vacant, and before beginning his functions, he must take an oath before the National Assembly to respect the Constitution and the Laws of the State.
The selection of the crown prince is an important step, as the candidate needs to have strong relations with assembly members and must be approved by a majority in the National Assembly. The emir has up to a year to name an heir, but the decision is usually expected in the coming weeks, and the appointment must be approved by the parliament.