Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, 86, dies: The 'Prince of Humility and Amnesty'

One of the most prominent roles of Sheikh Nawaf was when he undertook the position of Minister of Defense in 1990, during his country's confrontation with the invasion led by Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces. Subsequently, he assumed the responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior and the role of Deputy Prime Minister for Counterterrorism, when Kuwaiti security forces faced armed militants in January 2005.

Sheikh Nawaf's composed and reserved demeanor enabled him to navigate his role effectively during various crises that impacted his country, situated near Iran and Iraq. These crises encompassed challenges within the government, the ruling family, and the parliament, which had been dissolved on multiple occasions, AFP reported. 

Sheikh Nawaf, supported by his family for his portrayal as a humble politician who opted to work quietly, ascended to the role of Crown Prince in 2006. In 2020, he assumed the position of the Emir, succeeding his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away in September of that year at the age of 91. Sheikh Nawaf encountered the formidable task of steering his country's economy amid an economic crisis triggered by the decline in oil prices.

'The Prince of Amnesty'

Badr Al-Saif, Assistant Professor of History at Kuwait University, says that Sheikh Nawaf's tenure does not stand as the briefest in Kuwait's history, with certain rulers having governed for merely nine or fourteen days. Al-Saif told AFP Sheikh Nawaf, through the issuance of numerous amnesty decisions during his leadership, earned him the epithet of "The Prince of Amnesty."

In the previous month, the Kuwaiti Cabinet endorsed a decree granting pardons to political prisoners who were convicted over the past decade. Other amnesty decrees were also issued in 2021.

Al-Saif noted that Sheikh Nawaf "will be remembered for his distinctive qualities, characterized by his calm, piety, humility, and rare appearances."

Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the late ruler who governed Kuwait from 1921 until his demise in 1950.

Sheikh Nawaf completed his secondary education in Kuwait but did not pursue higher education. His foray into politics spans approximately half a century, beginning when he was appointed governor of Hawalli governorate at the age of 25. He held this position until 1978 when he assumed the role of Minister of Interior, a position he held for about ten years.

In 1988, he assumed the position of Minister of Defense and led it during the seven months of the Iraqi invasion that concluded with the intervention of the United States at the forefront of a military coalition during the First Gulf War in 1991. Following the liberation of Kuwait, he served as the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor before taking on the role of Deputy Chief of the National Guard in 1994.

Sheikh Nawaf re-entered the government as the Minister of Interior in 2003 and assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister in the same year. He retained these positions until his elevation to the position of Crown Prince three years later.

During his tenure as the Minister of Interior from 2003 to 2006, Sheikh Nawaf headed the security apparatus in the pursuit of extremists, leading to violent confrontations with the police in January 2005. Two policemen, eight extremist militants, and two civilians lost their lives in these clashes.

Sheikh Nawaf took on the responsibilities of leadership during a period when the world was contending with the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a significant downturn in oil prices. This decline had adverse repercussions on the Kuwaiti economy, which is heavily dependent on revenue from oil exports.

In a speech delivered following the constitutional oath before the Kuwaiti National Assembly, Sheikh Nawaf acknowledged that his country was confronting "serious challenges."

The Emir refrained from introducing radical changes to his country's foreign policy. Kuwait sustained its strict stance towards Israel, maintaining this position even after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized relations with the Israeli state in 2020.

Furthermore, Kuwait continued to foster close relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two countries that, in March, signed an agreement sponsored by China to resume diplomatic relations.

The focus is now on the future, given the recurring resignations of Kuwaiti governments and the dissolution of its parliament. The present Kuwaiti government marks the fifth within a single year. Additionally, throughout Sheikh Nawaf's tenure, the country experienced three parliamentary elections.

Regional observers have said that the repeated political deadlock has resulted in a postponement of essential reforms, hampered developmental projects, and obstructed the advancements of the infrastructure and the education sector.