Tributes have flooded in for the late Emir of Kuwait, HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who has died at the age of 91
Kuwait has announced 40 days of mourning following the death of HH Sheikh Sabah, who had ruled the oil-rich nation since 2006 and presided over its foreign policy for more than 50 years.
HH Sheikh Sabah served as Kuwait's foreign minister from 1963 until 1991, following the end of the seven-month-long Iraqi occupation. He was reappointed foreign minister in 1992 and served until 2003, when he was named prime minister.
The late Emir is associated with Kuwait’s development and progress, launching various development projects such as the Sabah Al-Ahmad Sea City, Jaber Causeway and Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital and others.
HH Sheikh Sabah maintained Kuwait’s stability throughout difficult times such as the Iraq-Iran war of 1980-1988, and according to the BBC was dubbed the "dean of Arab diplomacy" for his efforts to restore relations with states that backed Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, when Kuwait was invaded by Iraqi forces.
The late Emir also often acted as a mediator and bridge-builder in regional and international disputes, including the ongoing diplomatic stand-off between the GCC and Qatar, calling for a peaceful resolution of the blockade.
He was renowned for his humanitarian work, which received recognition from global leaders such as former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and current UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who described him as "an extraordinary symbol of wisdom and generosity, a messenger of peace, a bridge builder". Sheikh Sabah hosted several humanitarian aid donor conferences for Syria.
His Excellency Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC, described HH Sheikh Sabah as “the epitome of humility and a strong defender of OPEC.”
OPEC commented in a statement, “HH Sheikh Sabah played a particularly unique role in breaking the impasse in 2016 that paved the way for the historic Vienna Agreement on 30 November 2016 and the Declaration of Cooperation on 10 December 2016. His high-level diplomacy was central to its formation, and he has played an active and extremely constructive role in the years since.”
Sheikh Sabah’s 83-year-old half-brother, HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has been named by the cabinet as his successor.
Addressing parliament after taking the oath as Kuwait’s 16th Emir, HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad said that Kuwait is facing “acute circumstances and critical challenges” which require unity.
In common with its neighbours, oil-dependent Kuwait has been hard hit by the drop in the oil price and economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in September, Kuwait cut around US$3bn from its 2020-2021 budget as it faces a US$46bn deficit. Deutsche Bank estimates that Kuwait’s economy will contract by 7.8% this year.
