Kuwait Celebrates 60th National Day, 30th Liberation Day

Kuwaitis miss National Day celebrations canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic | KUNA
Kuwaitis miss National Day celebrations canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic | KUNA
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Kuwait Celebrates 60th National Day, 30th Liberation Day

Kuwaitis miss National Day celebrations canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic | KUNA
Kuwaitis miss National Day celebrations canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic | KUNA

Today, Kuwait is celebrating its 60th National Day and the 30th anniversary of its liberation amid political and social developments. The most prominent of these changes is Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah succeeding the late Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Seeking to calm political disputes between the Gulf country’s legislative and executive authorities, Emir Nawaf issued a decree on Wednesday to postpone parliament meetings for a month starting from Thursday.

Based on Article 106 of the constitution, the decree aims to both quell rising tensions and give the prime minister an opportunity to form the cabinet.

On Jan. 24 the emir reappointed Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah to nominate a new cabinet and the premier had been holding consultations with MPs ahead of doing so.

More so, Kuwait’s Constitutional Court rejected all lawsuits contesting the annulment of the National Assembly’s elections that were held in 2020.

This year’s National Day falls amid renewed discussions on the economy, corruption, enhancing transparency, and the general amnesty law.

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Kuwait was forced, for the second year in a row, to cancel public events celebrating its National Day.

Popular celebrations, parades, and artistic evenings were canceled.

A rise in the rate of coronavirus infections forced Kuwait to close its land and sea border crossings with certain exceptions made for shipping workers and returning citizens and their immediate family members and companions.

The shutdown was decided by the country’s Council of Ministers.

The government also warned it might resort to stricter measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Kuwait reported on Tuesday 1,015 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 186,004.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced eight more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,057.

It is noteworthy that Kuwaiti diplomacy succeeded in helping end the Gulf crisis between Arab Quartet countries (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt) and Qatar.



Egypt and Kuwait Align on Gaza Reconstruction, Reject Displacement

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
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Egypt and Kuwait Align on Gaza Reconstruction, Reject Displacement

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi concluded a three-day Gulf tour on Tuesday with a visit to Kuwait, following a stop in Qatar.

He held high-level talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in discussions described by analysts as both politically and economically significant given the volatile regional climate.

At the heart of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti summit were developments in the Gaza Strip, with both nations reaffirming the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the continuation of hostage and detainee exchanges, and the rapid entry of sufficient humanitarian aid, said a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

Both Cairo and Kuwait City expressed full support for the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza, stressing the importance of implementing the plan without delay once a ceasefire is reached.

The two leaders also reiterated their firm opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians and underscored the need for a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue — one that ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sisi's visit underscored what Egyptian MP Mostafa Bakry described as “a unified and coordinated stance between Egypt and Kuwait, as well as with other Gulf and Arab nations, during a critical period for the region.”

He noted that the outcome of the talks demonstrated “a shared commitment to ending the war in Gaza and moving quickly to implement the Arab reconstruction plan — a key objective that signals to the world the Arab world’s unified rejection of displacement and any efforts to erase the Palestinian cause.”

Beyond Gaza, Sisi and Sheikh Meshal also discussed broader regional developments, including the ongoing crises in Syria and Sudan. The leaders expressed support for the sovereignty and stability of the two nations, along with continued backing for Yemen’s legitimate government.

They also emphasized the strategic importance of safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea and regional waterways.

In remarks carried by the Egyptian presidency, the Kuwaiti Emir hailed Sisi’s visit as a testament to the “deep and historic ties” between their countries, calling it an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors — particularly economic and investment-related areas.

Sisi, for his part, affirmed Egypt’s commitment to expanding its partnership with Kuwait, especially in economic cooperation. He underlined the importance of increasing bilateral trade and investment to serve the mutual interests of both peoples.