Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the 86-year-old Emir of Kuwait, passed away.

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah al-Sabah, the minister of his emiri court, said in a statement broadcast on state television on Saturday, “With great sadness and sorrow, we – the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world – mourn the late His Highness the emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord today.”

The cause of death was not disclosed by the authorities, but they did declare the beginning of a 40-day official mourning period and the three-day closure of government offices.

Sheikh Meshaal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, 83, the crown prince of Kuwait and his half-brother, was subsequently proclaimed the new emir, according to a statement from Issa Al-Kandari, the deputy prime minister and minister of state for cabinet affairs.

Following the passing of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, in the United States at the age of 91, Sheikh Nawaf took the oath of office in September 2020.

“Kuwait is having a very depressing day. The sheikh has only benefited the nation. Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University, told Al Jazeera that his legacy will be warmly remembered. “Despite being the third shortest in Kuwaiti history, his era is noteworthy.”

Before coming to power, Sheikh Nawaf held important positions for many years. He was serving as the defense minister in 1990 when Iraqi troops invaded the oil-rich emirate, and he was named heir apparent in 2006. He dealt with challenges from armed groups while serving as interior minister as well.

He was well-liked by the al-Sabah family, who ruled, and was known for his modesty and low profile.

“It is referred to as the emir of pardons,” al-Saif remarked.

With a number of amnesties, prisoner releases, and citizenship awards, he has oversaw the largest reconciliation in Kuwaiti history in the modern era. Additionally, he has allowed the opposition and all voices back into the parliament. He has also removed the government’s power to choose the speaker of the house, which was extremely important to the public’s position and opinion.

“Outsider, insider”

Al-Saif described Sheikh Meshaal, his successor, as “an insider and an outsider at the same time.”

“He has been with emirs throughout all of their choices and official actions. He enters with the intention of advancing Kuwait while preserving what it already has. In Kuwait, succession has gone smoothly. It is governed by a constitution, and in the days ahead, this process will take place as we speak,” he continued.

After assuming the emirate three years prior, Sheikh Nawaf was tasked with guiding Kuwait’s economy through a crisis brought on by a decline in oil prices, which resulted in the country’s credit rating being downgraded by international agencies in 2020.

In his inauguration speech at the time, he recognized the “serious” challenges, and the government invested heavily to help the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, doubling the public debt in just 18 months. But he didn’t really change all that much.

Sheikh Nawaf was taken to the hospital in late November due to an undisclosed ailment, according to KUNA, the official news agency. The small, oil-rich country had been waiting for updates on his health in the interim.

During his reign, Sheikh Nawaf frequently delegated authority to his deputy despite having to deal with health checks and other problems. He had visited the US in March 2021, according to earlier reports from state-run media, for unidentified medical examinations.

Sheikh Nawaf, who was born in 1937, was the fifth child of Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 1921 until 1950.

He completed his secondary education in Kuwait, but he did not pursue further education.

At the age of 25, he began his political career as the province’s governor of Hawalli.