High-ranking Kurdistan Region officials offer condolences on passing of Kuwaiti monarch

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s top officials on Thursday offered their condolences on the passing of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah who died on Tuesday afternoon.

Masoud Barzani, the former president of the Kurdistan Region and the current leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on early Wednesday offered his condolences on the passing of the Kuwaiti Monarch.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the people and government of Kuwait for the passing of Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah,” Barzani wrote on Twitter.

Sheikh Sabah, who led Kuwait since 2006, was 91 when his passing was announced by the national cabinet. The body then announced that Sheikh Sabah’s 83-year-old brother, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf-al Sabah, would be the new head of state.

 Sheikh Saba’s “wisdom and great leadership will certainly remain with us. May he rest in eternal peace,” Barzani said in his tweet.

On Wednesday, Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah was sworn in in front of the Kuwaiti Parliament as the new emir of Kuwait.

Kurdistan Region President’s condolences

In a condolence letter to the newly-appointed Sheikh Nawaf, the late Sheikh Sabah’s half-brother, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday expressed his “deepest sympathy and condolences” on behalf of the people of Kurdistan.

“It is with the great grief that I learned about the passing of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,” President Barzani wrote in the letter, as he wished “the state and people of Kuwait continued peace, stability and prosperity.”

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani previously tweeted his condolences following the announcement of the Emir’s death.

“The loss of his wise leadership, skill as a mediator and personal generosity will be felt throughout the region and around the world,” Prime Minister Barzani noted.

Prime Minister Barzani also hailed the diplomatic relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Kuwait as “strong, friendly.”

Read More: Kurdistan Region PM extends condolences on passing of Kuwaiti leader

The Kuwaiti leader served as his nation’s foreign minister for 40 years before becoming the monarchical state’s prime minister. Following his premiership, he became the leader of the oil-rich nation.

In July, Sheikh Sabah was admitted in the United States to undergo surgery.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany