President Tharman Shanmugaratnam sent a condolence letter to Kuwait on the passing of its emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on Dec. 17, as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sheikh Nawaf died on Dec. 16 at the age of 86, according to Kuwait's News Agency.

He had reigned for a little over three years, Al Jazeera reported.

‘A distinguished leader’: President Tharman

In his letter, President Tharman expressed his “deepest condolences” on Sheikh Nawaf’s passing on behalf of the people of Singapore.

He called Sheikh Nawaf a “distinguished leader” who “devoted his life” to the service of his country.

“His contributions were instrumental in the development and prosperity of modern Kuwait,” President Tharman wrote.

He added that Sheikh Nawaf would be “dearly missed” in Kuwait and among its global partners.

Sheikh Nawaf, the 'emir of pardons'

Held significant roles before becoming emir

Sheikh Nawaf held significant roles in Kuwait's government for decades before becoming Kuwait’s emir, according to Al Jazeera.

He was serving as defence minister when neighbouring Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990, marking the beginning of the First Gulf War.

Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, militarily occupied Kuwait for almost seven months until Feb. 27, 1991.

Throughout his life, Sheikh Nawaf also helmed other important roles, including the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior, The New York Times reported.

He was appointed the crown prince and heir to his predecessor, Sheikh Sabah in 2006.

'Consensus builder'

In September 2020, Sheikh Nawaf rose to power as Kuwait’s emir following the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Al Jazeera reported.

According to Reuters, diplomats saw Sheikh Nawaf as a consensus builder. He reportedly maintained a foreign policy that balanced Kuwait’s relations with its neighbours.

However, his reign was marked by an "intense standoff" between the government and the elected parliament, hindering key national structural reforms. Under his ruling, eight domestic governments were formed.

In what appeared to be a positive turn of events, consensus returned between the government and the parliament in recent months.

Sheikh Nawaf was also tasked to steer the country through the economic crisis caused by falling oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nicknamed the “emir of pardons”, Sheikh Nawaf reportedly issued two amnesties in 2021 and Jan. 2023, pardoning and reducing the sentences of almost 70 political dissidents in total.

Succeeded by Sheikh Mishal

Sheikh Nawaf was admitted to hospital in Nov. 2023 due to an “emergency health problem”, according to Kuwait’s state news agency, Reuters reported.

Upon his passing, Kuwaiti authorities did immediately not give the cause of his death, according to Al Jazeera.

Sheikh Nawaf was succeeded by his half-brother, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who became Kuwait's new emir on Dec. 16.

You can view the announcement of Sheikh Nawaf's passing here:

Kuwait Amiri Diwan mourns demise of His Highness the Amir https://t.co/8GHo8FxZdb#KUNA #KUWAIT pic.twitter.com/8WBj9Nai4b

— Kuwait News Agency - English Feed (@kuna_en) December 16, 2023

Top image from Qatar Airways/X and Jeffrey Pang/Facebook.