Kuwait’s ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 91, passed away on Tuesday, after having been in the hospital for a month due to an ‘unspecified condition’. There was no immediate announcement from the authorities. In July, Sheikh Sabah was flown to the United States for medical treatment following surgery for an unspecified condition in Kuwait.
He was expected to be succeeded by his 83-year-old half-brother and crown prince, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed. He had ruled the oil-rich Gulf Arab state since 2006 and had overseen its foreign policy for more than 50 years. He 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. Sheikh Sabah stood out for his efforts at pushing for diplomacy to resolve a bitter dispute between Qatar and other Arab nations that continues to this day.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences through social media and called Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a close friend of India and a great statesman.
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