Sunday 15 / December / 2024
Muscat: Leaders from around the world have expressed their condolences on the passing of the late His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, at the age of 91.
Read here: Emir of Kuwait passes away
Among those who mourned him were leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Arab world. His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, was among those who paid his tributes.
“HH the Emir mourned with great sorrow and sadness, the death of HH the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, who passed away today,” said the Qatar News Agency.
“HH the Emir stressed that the late Emir of Kuwait was a great leader who was wise, moderate, had a long-term vision, dedicated his life to serve his country and his ummah, and called for dialogue, solidarity and unity among Arab countries to defend their just causes.”
To mark the passing of the late Emir, the United Arab Emirates has declared three days of mourning, with President HH Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordering flags to be flown at half-mast, according to the country’s WAM news agency.
“President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a cable of condolences to HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Deputy Emir and Crown Prince of Kuwait,” added the agency.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai, added, “May God have mercy on the compassionate father of Kuwait, the beating heart of the Gulf, and the noble prince of humanity, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
Ahmed Abdul Gheit, the Secretary General of the Arab League, passed on his condolences as well, calling the departed Emir an iconic leader who was known for his wisdom “and commitment to dialogue as a mean to solve thorny problems.”
Other Arab leaders also hailed the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah as a kind leader to his nation and a leader in regional affairs. Her Majesty the Queen of Jordan Rania Al Abdullah said, “The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah was a great leader and a kind father to all Kuwaitis. My deepest condolences go out to his family and his nation. We all lost an icon of humanity today. My heart and my prayers are with you.”
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt joined in the condolences, saying, “I mourn with great sadness and sorrow the death of the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, as the Arab and Islamic nation lost one of its most precious men, and expressing sincere condolences to the brotherly state of Kuwait, the government and people of Kuwait. I pray that the deceased will bless his mercy and inspire his family patience and solace.”
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said: “Lebanon, with the passing of Sheikh Sabah, has lost a big brother, who stood by the Lebanese people in difficult circumstances over the past years and spared no effort to ensure the stability, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”
Representatives of the United Nations also offered their condolences to those who were mourning the passing of the late Emir. Volkan Bozkir, the President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, said a meeting would be held at the United Nations to pay tribute to him.
“My deepest condolences to the people of Kuwait,” he stated.
“Emir Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah will be missed. He always played a leadership role in the region, as a true diplomat, conflict mediator and humanitarian. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah was a true diplomat, conflict mediator and the holder of distinguished UN title of Global Humanitarian Leader.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the World Health Organisation, added, “It is a sad day! I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, a global humanitarian leader at a time when such leadership is most needed. I am extending my deepest sympathies to his family and the people of Kuwait.”
Tributes and condolences for the departed Emir also came from other parts of the world. Abdulla Shahid, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, was among those who joined in.
“Deepest condolences to family of HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, and the people of Kuwait on this day of grief. His Highness was a great friend and brother of the Maldives, a regional and international mediator and a global humanitarian leader. May Allah shower his mercy upon him.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, was among those who paid tribute. “Sincere condolences to the Royal family, government and people of Kuwait on the passing of the Emir of the state of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah,” he said. “Revered for his commitment to peace and diplomacy, his loss reverberates greatly across the region.”
“His Highness Sheikh Sabah was a global icon for peace especially in the Middle East where he was involved in several peace processes covering a number of countries in the region,” said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Diplomats and foreign missions in Kuwait also extended their sympathies to the people of the country on this sad occasion.
“The Royal Danish Embassy extends its sincere condolences to the people of Kuwait for the loss of HH the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah. We mourn with you on this sad occasion,” said Ole Emil Moesby, the ambassador of Denmark to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen.
Michael Davenport, the UK’s ambassador to Kuwait, said he was “Deeply saddened by the death of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait. Our sincere condolences go to His Highness’ family and the people of Kuwait in their grief. We mourn with you a great leader of wisdom and humanity, and a true friend of the UK.”
