Nawaf al-Sabah, emir of Kuwait, dies at 86

Nawaf al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, has died at the age of 86.

The Kuwaiti state television channel announced the leader’s passing on Saturday.

Nawaf who was named crown prince in 2006, took over from Sabah, his brother and former emir, in 2020.

Nawaf was defence minister when Iraq invaded and occupied the oil-rich nation in 1990, sparking the beginning of the Gulf war. He later served as interior minister.

Reacting to the emir’s demise in a statement, President Bola Tinubu sympathised with the al-Sabah family and the entire country.

Tinubu described the monarch as a man of great compassion, peace, and mercy, and one who granted amnesty to political prisoners and dissidents.

The president eulogised Nawaf’s achievements in a short time, saying he drove a progressive and stable nation.

Tinubu prayed that “Almighty Allah to show the Emir mercy and grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus”.

Kuwait has announced 40 days of mourning, directing government offices to close for three days.

Mishal, the 83-year-old crown prince, has been named as Nawaf’s successor.