The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah died Tuesday, September 29, at the age of 91, announced the royal palace of this rich oil country in the Gulf.
"It is with great sadness and sorrow that we mourn (...) the death of Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait," said Sheikh Ali Jarrah al-Sabah, Minister in charge of royal affairs in a recording broadcast on television.
Television in Kuwait had interrupted its programs and broadcast verses from the Koran before the official announcement.
After his hospitalization on July 18, the Head of State, who came to power in 2006, transferred "temporarily" part of his powers to the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The latter, his 83-year-old half-brother, is expected to succeed him.
Sheikh Sabah then went to the United States at the end of July to continue medical treatment, according to the authorities, who had not given any details on the nature of his illness.
It was not immediately clear whether the Emir was still in the United States at the time of his death or whether he had returned to his country.
A degraded state of health
Sheikh Sabah was considered the architect of modern Kuwait's foreign policy by being both a great ally of the United States and Saudi Arabia while maintaining good relations with the latter's rival, Iran.
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held several important positions in the government and was appointed crown prince in 2006, after a consensus of the ruling family who chose him to occupy this post, because of his popularity within the family.
With AFP
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