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SAUDI KING SALMAN has ousted his nephew as crown prince and installed his son Mohammed bin Salman – the first of a new generation set for power in a conservative kingdom used to ageing leaders.
His appointment completes a gradual removal of powers from Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, who has been fired, with his rise symbolising the hopes of Saudi’s youthful population, more than half of which is under 25.
According to a royal decree issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, was also named deputy prime minister, and maintains his post as minister of defence.
His appointment caps a tumultuous two years since Salman, 81, ascended the throne and named the thick-bearded Mohammed bin Salman deputy crown prince, or second in line to the throne.
Mohammed bin Nayef, a veteran law enforcer well-regarded in the West for his efforts to combat Al-Qaeda, was also fired from his post as interior minister, the decree said.
The hard-charging Mohammed bin Salman’s public profile rapidly eclipsed that of the crown prince.
All change
Salman had already set a precedent for removal of a crown prince when, in April 2015, he appointed Mohammed bin Nayef and fired Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud, who had assumed the post under the late King Abdullah.
The move left Mohammed bin Nayef as the first of the second generation, or grandsons of the kingdom’s founder, Abdul Aziz bin Saud, in line to lead the Islamic kingdom.
With Mohammed bin Salman now poised for the throne, an even younger generation is set for power.
As deputy crown prince, he took on an unusual amount of responsibility, most prominently as the main proponent of a wide-ranging plan, Vision 2030, to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent economy of a country where women’s rights are among the most restricted in the world.
He also chaired the Council of Economic and Development Affairs which coordinates economic policy, and oversaw a body overseeing state oil giant Saudi Aramco.
It was not immediately clear if Mohammed bin Salman would continue in those roles.
As defence minister he holds overall responsibility for the kingdom’s military intervention in Yemen. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition supporting the internationally-recognised Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels.
A foreign diplomat told AFP yesterday that Mohammed bin Nayef was politically “getting weaker, more marginalised”, after continuous chipping away at his powers and influence.
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Jobs for the boys version millionnaire dictatorship
@Paul Quirke:
Just another day in the Kingdom of Terrorism.
@Paul Quirke: I wonder did Donald Trump call him to congratulate hos closest ally.
As the country and the Saudi citizens are not under any threat from neighbouring country’s the amount of weapons purchased from America (and England) to protect these people is astonishing.
@Dave Hogan: perhaps you should look into the difference between the Saudi army and the civil guard .
@Ken Hayden: The new chief of staff of Isis should be his title
The White House has heralded this appointment as “a great victory for democracy”. The EU, UK, and other allied states have echoed this position.
If you disagree with them you must be a terrorist whose country needs some freedom. Move along please nothing to see here.
Half the population are under 25. That is mind blowing.
@Ace: our population was similarly skewed in terms of age distribution about 30 years ago. Not that astonishing tbh.
@Zx5vZulB: I disagree. I think it is very astonishing.
Look at the changes that have come about in Ireland over the past 30 years as a result. Seperation of church and state, gay marriage etc. No way this would have happened with the old generation. Sure condoms were illegal until the 90′s. This is in no small part due to the surge in the young population.
I think you will see some big changes in Saudi over the next generation too. Having lived in the Middle East, and met may Saudis, I can tell you that every one I met was pro womens rights and generally quite westernised. Once the old guard starts to die off things will change.
@Ace:
Do you think that a Saudi franchised network of condom vending machines might work anytime soon?
@Moorooka Mick: Maybe an idea for Dragons Den alright. Lets see if we can get Sheikin Stephens on board.
Like Israel yet another historical British gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving.
Should have decimated that hell hole after 9/11 instead of sending us to Afghanistan and Iraq.
On 10 January 2016, The Independent reported that “the BND, the German intelligence agency … portrayed Saudi defence minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman … as a political gambler who is destabilising the Arab world through proxy wars in Yemen and Syria.”[27][29][30][33]
Its good to be the King…Leo the liarheart would love that…
I don’t get the sub headline “all change”
Surely a case of “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”
That’s the sort of power Trump would like to have.
The USA is being two faced in supporting the House of Saud and then fighting wars to
debunk such tyrannical regimes and install the good old USA style of Capitalist Democracy. No wonder the USA is seen as a hypocrite in the Middle East.
A disgusting country. Hopefully the monarchy will implode.
@prop joe: hopefully oil will implode then America won’t give a feck anymore and this place will revert to a hot Sandy s-hit-hole that nobody cares about. Awful place with prehistoric legal system
Bit like installing something to the AG office
Lifted by the hasp of the arse
Does this mean he’s on the dole?
I hope he got his redundancy.
Silly place
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