Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad-al Sabah passes away at age 91, PM Modi condoles ruler’s demise

The ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad-al Sabah passed away on September 29, 2020. He was admitted to the hospital in the United States where he breathed his last.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad-al Sabah was flown to the US in July 2020 for further treatment after he underwent successful surgery for the unspecified medical issues.

In the emir’s absence, his duties were assigned to his half-brother Crown Prince Nawaf al-Ahmad al Sabah in accordance with the constitutional law. With the emir’s death, the 83 years prince has been recognized by the cabinet to take Sabah-al Ahmad’s place as the monarch of the country.

World mourns the demise of Kuwait’s emir:

From India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, leaders from all over the world mourn the demise of Kuwait’s emir and expressed their condolences through social media.

My heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait. In this moment of grief our thoughts are with the Al-Sabah family and the people of the State of Kuwait.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 29, 2020

It is a sad day! I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of #Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, a global humanitarian leader at a time when such leadership is most needed. I am extending my deepest sympathies to his family and the people of 🇰🇼. pic.twitter.com/hEiaIDKuqA

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 29, 2020

Our sincere condolences go to the Al-Sabah family and the people of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah epitomised wisdom, tolerance, and peace and he was a great pioneer of Gulf cooperation. He served Kuwait with honor and grace, and his work will never be forgotten. May God have mercy on him pic.twitter.com/LUtWtu8JlL

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) September 29, 2020

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad-al Sabah: Ruler of Kuwait

• Sheikh Sabah became Kuwait’s Foreign Minister in 1963- 2 years after Britain recognized Kuwait’s independence. He held the position till 1991, following the end of the seven-month-long Iraqi occupation.

• He was again appointed as a Foreign Minister in 1992 and he served the position till 2003 when he was named Prime Minister by his half-brother Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad.

• Sheikh Sabah became the ruler of Kuwait in 2006, after the death of Sheikh Jaber and his cousin Emir Sheikh Saad al -Abdullah stepped down just 9 days into his rule as parliament moved to depose him on the health grounds.

• In his tenure, Sheikh Sabah had ruled the oil-rich Gulf Arab State since 2006 and had overseen its foreign policy for more than 50 years.

• Emir was dubbed ‘dean of Arab Diplomacy’ for his efforts to restore relations with states that had backed Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf war when Kuwait was being invaded by the Iraqi forces.

• Sheikh Sabah had also acted as a mediator in the regional disputes, which includes the ongoing diplomatic stand-off between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, its allies.

• Under Sheikh Sabah's rule, Kuwait had also refrained from intervening in Syria’s civil war, instead hosted several donor conferences for humanitarian aid.

About Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad-al Sabah:

Sheikh was born on June 16, 1929, in Kuwait. He was the fourth son of Sheikh Ahmad-Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and was the Commander of the Kuwait Military Forces and Emir of Kuwait. Sheikh was sworn in as the emir on January 29, 2006, after the confirmation of the National Assembly and served as the ruler until his death on September 29, 2020.