Kuwait's leader, Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, has passed away at the age of 86, according to an announcement made by Kuwaiti state TV. Sheikh Nawaf had been serving as the emir for the past three years, following the reign of his half brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

The crown prince, 83-year-old Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, has been named as Sheikh Nawaf's successor. In light of this loss, Kuwait has declared 40 days of mourning and government offices will remain closed for three days.

A statement aired on state TV said, "With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn... the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah."

Sheikh Nawaf's path to leadership began in 2006 when he was named crown prince, and he eventually assumed the role of emir in 2020. Born in 1937, he was the fifth son of Kuwait's former ruler, Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. Throughout his career, he served as both defense minister during the Gulf War when Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait in 1990 and as interior minister.

Compared to his predecessor, who had a tenure spanning over a decade and significantly influenced the country's foreign policy for half a century, Sheikh Nawaf's time as ruler was relatively short.

The passing of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah marks the end of an era in Kuwaiti leadership. As the country mourns his loss, attention turns to the succession plans and the role that Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah will play in leading the oil-rich nation.