Kuwait’s ruling emir was hospitalized Wednesday “for an emergency health issue” but was later reported to be in stable condition.
The report by state news agency KUNA did not detail the problems facing Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah (86). However, Sheikh Nawaf has handed over power several times during his reign to his deputies when facing health checks and other problems.
Given Sheikh Nawaf’s age, this emergency adds to concerns about his health. KUNA previously reported that Sheikh Nawaf had traveled to the United States for an undisclosed medical examination in March 2021.
The health of Kuwait’s leaders remains a sensitive issue in the small Middle Eastern country bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which has faced internal power struggles behind palace doors.
Sheikh Nawaf was installed as emir after his predecessor, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, died in 2020. A deep sense of loss over the passing of Sheikh Sabah, known for his diplomacy and peace efforts, was felt throughout the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Nawaf’s reign has been largely peaceful even as Kuwait struggles through political strife – including an overhaul of Kuwait’s welfare system – which prevents the sheikh from taking on debt to run the government. This leaves the country with little money to pay bloated public sector salaries, even though Kuwait generates enormous wealth from its oil reserves.
In 2021, Sheikh Nawaf issued a long-awaited amnesty decree, pardoning and reducing the sentences of more than 30 Kuwaiti dissidents in a move aimed at easing the major impasse in the government.
Kuwait, a country of about 4.2 million people and slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, has the sixth largest oil reserves in the world.
They have been loyal US allies since the 1991 Gulf War drove out Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi occupation forces. Kuwait hosts about 13,500 American troops and is the headquarters of the US Army in the Middle East. (ab/uh)