World Leaders Pay Tribute to Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined global leaders in mourning the passing of Qatar’s former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, praising his transformative 18-year rule.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences on the passing of Qatar’s Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, hailing his profound impact on both domestic and international affairs. In a statement released through The Citizen, Ramaphosa acknowledged Sheikh Hamad’s 18-year rule as a transformative era that redefined Qatar’s global footprint and regional influence.
Sheikh Hamad, who led Qatar from 1995 until his abdication in 2013, oversaw a period of significant modernization and strategic repositioning of the Gulf state. His leadership coincided with a dramatic expansion of Qatar’s energy-driven economy and the rise of state-backed media network Al Jazeera, which reshaped regional media dynamics. According to The Citizen, his tenure “reshaped the energy-rich country's domestic and global footprint,” marking a shift from traditional Gulf governance models to a more assertive foreign policy stance.
International tributes have poured in from across the globe, as reported by Al Jazeera, with leaders from Gaza to India recognizing Sheikh Hamad’s role in advancing Qatari diplomacy and mediation efforts in conflict zones. His legacy includes high-profile diplomatic interventions and the positioning of Doha as a key interlocutor in Middle Eastern and global affairs. As one of the architects of modern Qatar, Sheikh Hamad’s influence continues to be felt through the country’s sustained investment in soft power, sports diplomacy, and international development initiatives.