Kuwait revokes citizenship of its serving ambassador to London

Kuwait has withdrawn the citizenship of its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Badr Mohammed Al-Awadhi, in a rare decision that leaves a serving diplomat without the nationality of the state he was accredited to represent.

An Amiri decree was issued ordering the revocation of Al-Awadhi's nationality, based on a recommendation from the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, chaired by Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, according to Kuwait's official gazette, Kuwait Today.

The decision was taken "by dependency", following the posthumous revocation of the citizenship of Al-Awadhi's father, Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Awadhi, a former security officer, a source told Arabi21 news site.

Under Articles 13 and 21 bis of Kuwait's nationality law, citizenship obtained based on false information or forgery in the original file can be withdrawn retroactively, leading automatically to the loss of nationality for those who acquired it by dependency.

The move places Kuwait's foreign ministry in an exceptionally sensitive position, as Al-Awadhi was serving as ambassador in London, one of the world's most important diplomatic capitals, and was formally representing the state at the time the decree was issued.

The New Arab has reached out to the Kuwaiti embassy in London for comment.

So far, Al-Awadhi has issued no official statement or public comment on the decision. Diplomatic sources said he may maintain administrative silence while arrangements are made for his return to Kuwait, or while exploring whether any legal steps, such as submitting a grievance, are available.

However, the sources noted that nationality decisions in Kuwait are generally treated as acts of sovereignty and are often not subject to direct judicial challenge in key aspects.

Al-Awadhi's official social media accounts have ceased activity since news of the citizenship revocation emerged.

The decision forms part of a broad campaign launched by the Kuwaiti government in 2024 to review and "clean up" nationality records.

The process has so far affected thousands of cases, including former MPs, military officers, academics, senior officials and diplomats. Authorities say the campaign aims to correct legal irregularities and reinforce the rule of law without exception.

The decision comes amid an intensified denaturalisation campaign launched by the Kuwaiti authorities since mid 2024, under which tens of thousands of people have reportedly had their citizenship revoked or placed under review.

The campaign is framed by officials as an effort to correct allegedly forged or improperly granted nationalities and to protect national identity. However, regional rights groups warn it has created a growing population at risk of statelessness and is unfolding in a climate of political repression following the dissolution of parliament and the suspension of some constitutional provisions last year.