Atmospheres surrounding the Saudi-Iranian deal, orchestrated with Chinese support on March 10, 2023, have brought a positive wave to the Gulf region.
Tensions in the region, marked by security and political challenges among Gulf countries, have eased.
The historic reconciliation between major players in the Gulf, like Saudi Arabia and Iran, played a crucial role in calming things down.
This reconciliation resulted in improved relations, mutual visits, and stronger economic agreements.
Moreover, Gulf countries such as Oman and Qatar have played a pivotal role in attempting to bring back the parties to the Iranian nuclear agreement to the negotiating table.
Qatar’s mediation successfully facilitated the mutual release of prisoners between the US and Iran on September 18, 2023, leading the United States to transfer $ 6 billion to Iran through Qatari banks as part of this agreement.
Just days before the end of 2023, Kuwait bid farewell to its sixteenth Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away at the age of 86.
He had spent nearly three years as the Gulf country’s ruler, assuming office on September 29, 2020, succeeding the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.
Due to health conditions, he delegated some of his constitutional duties to his brother and Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, on November 16, 2021.
Despite his brief tenure in office, the late Emir left a distinct mark on Kuwait’s political landscape.
Notably, he fostered an atmosphere of reconciliation and amnesty.
Simultaneously, he took decisive steps to combat corruption, confronting prominent figures accused of embezzling public funds through the judiciary, which handled numerous cases, including the “Army Fund” case that resulted in the conviction of a former prime minister and a former minister of defense and interior.
After the passing of Sheikh Nawaf, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal was proclaimed Emir of Kuwait in accordance with the constitutional provisions and Article 4 of Law No. 4 of 1964 regarding the rules of succession.
Sheikh Meshal, born on September 27, 1940, is the seventh son of Kuwait’s ruler, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (the tenth Emir of Kuwait), and a brother to three rulers.
Prince Meshal entered political life through a career in security and military service, where he spent over 56 years.
Despite the late Emir Sheikh Nawaf’s efforts to ease political tensions and foster consensus in Kuwait, the country experienced continuous parliamentary crises during his approximately three-year rule.
Within this period, there were three parliamentary elections.
The first took place a few months after his ascension to the throne in December 2020, followed by the second in September 2022, and the latest in June 2023.
These events unfolded due to the strained relationship between the two branches of government, and the National Assembly (Parliament) was dissolved twice during Sheikh Nawaf’s s reign.
Parliamentary elections for Kuwait’s Assembly were held on June 6, 2023.
These elections witnessed the commitment of the government to maintain neutrality in the electoral process, a new measure initiated by Sheikh Nawaf and introduced in the summer of 2022.
Sheikh Nawaf affirmed the government’s pledge to refrain from intervening in elections, including the selection of the Speaker of the Assembly and other positions.
This commitment was reiterated in his address in April 2023 and was effectively realized in the Assembly elections of 2022 and 2023, marking a significant milestone for democratic practices in Kuwait.
In the September 2022 parliamentary elections, Sheikh Meshal inspired the initiative for change.
He dissolved the Assembly, aiming to fix political issues and resolve disagreements.
In June 2022, the Crown Prince emphasized the need to correct the course to avoid returning to previous challenges.
However, the Constitutional Court nullified the 2022 Assembly last March 19.
