Saudi crown prince signals family unity as succession looms

RIYADH, Could 19 (Reuters) – An unlikely royal joined a Saudi delegation to the UAE this week, and readers of the Kingdom’s political panorama are viewing the transfer as a message of household unity from its de facto ruler after fractious years spent constructing his energy base.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed is the eldest son of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the detained brother of the Saudi monarch, and has no official put up.

But his identify topped the Saudi state media’s record of delegates accompanying Crown Prince and inheritor obvious Mohammed bin Salman to pay respects to the brand new United Arab Emirates ruler.

Often called MbS, Prince Mohammed had held off heading to the UAE till his father King Salman, 86, left hospital after a week-long keep that refocused Saudi watchers’ and analysts’ consideration on problems with succession.

“Having the son of Prince Ahmed sitting subsequent to him in Abu Dhabi is a robust message to native and worldwide public opinions, particularly with the succession looming,” stated one Saudi supply aware of the royal household’s workings, declining to be named as a result of sensitivity of the matter.

Extra broadly, the delegation represented a cautious balancing by MbS of figures from totally different branches of the household, stated Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a political scientist at Rice College’s Baker Institute in america.

“(This) maybe was designed to show a present of unity inside the Al Saud household that has been beneath pressure from points such because the detention of Prince Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef,” he stated.

The Saudi authorities didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the delegation or indicators its composition might need despatched.

COUNTERBALANCING

In a speedy ascent to energy, Prince Mohammed has cracked down on perceived rivals and critics since changing Mohammed bin Nayef (MbN), the king’s nephew, as crown prince in a palace coup in 2017.

Having been endorsed by the Allegiance Council that very same 12 months, MbS’s accession is computerized and never anticipated to be challenged. He’s additionally defence minister and tightly controls state safety companies.

However diplomats have recognized the March 2020 detentions of MbN and Prince Ahmed as a sore level between Riyadh and Washington, whose ties have been strained because the 2018 homicide within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi authorities haven’t commented on the detentions, which a number of sources stated on the time have been on costs of treason and depicted as a preemptive effort to make sure compliance inside the Al Saud household.

Earlier than his detention, Prince Ahmed had stored a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 following a visit to London throughout which he appeared in on-line footage to criticize the Saudi management.

The Abu Dhabi journey was not the primary time MbS has elevated relations of royals beforehand out of favour, together with these netted in an anti-corruption purge.

MbN was changed as inside minister in 2017 by his nephew Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef. In 2018, Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed deputy governor of Asir area as his brother Alwaleed bin Talal, detained in the course of the purge, was negotiating a launch settlement.

As he empowers youthful royals in positions of authority, Prince Mohammad’s actions additionally sign a definitive passing of the baton from the era of King Salman and Prince Ahmed – surviving sons of King Abdulaziz, who based fashionable Saudi Arabia and was adopted by six offspring as monarchs.

“Mohammed bin Salman has been counterbalancing resentment from some senior members of the ruling household by courting youthful princes,” stated Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar on the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Ghaida Ghantous; enhancing by John Stonestreet

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