King Salman Replaces Nephew With Son to Heir Saudi Arabia’s Throne

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman decided to remove his nephew as crown prince in favor of his son, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, on Wednesday.

In the royal hierarchy, 31-year-old Mohammed bin Salman is now first in line to succeed his father King Salman as ruler of the Gulf nation.

King Salman’s decrees removed 57-year-old Mohammed bin Nayaef not only from his place in line, but also from his post as interior minister. During his time served, Mohammed bin Nayaef was respected by Saudis and their foreign allies for disassembling al-Qaeda’s networks inside the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies, which is when one ruler has supreme authority and makes all major decisions. King Salman has used this tactic to his advantage and has demonstrated a sense of empowerment for his offspring.

Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to the top of the hierarchy had been suspected by many who believed his father wanted to make him the next ruler. The young man had been quick to assume prominent roles and handle important tasks and files within the kingdom.

His supporters believe he is hardworking and willing to offer a positive vision for the kingdom’s future, especially for the large population of youths. Critics, however, have referred to the man as inexperienced and power hungry.

Despite his youth, the activist leader has played a visible role in the government, serving as defense minister and overseeing the state oil company during a time when the kingdom has been struggling with low oil prices.

He had already driven key reform policies, such as the vision 2030 plan, which is an attempt to decrease the country’s oil usage, diversify its economy as well as loosen of some of the more conservative Islamic kingdom’s social restrictions.

The young man has faced criticism after driving a planned initial offering for Aramco, a Saudi oil giant.

“The problem is that he is unpredictable, and it is not clear who he is relying on for advice,” Paul Stevens, a Middle East Oil analyst, said.

However, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, has provided Mohammed with mentorship during his rise while the two men worked together to isolate Qatar, as it is expected of supporting terrorism.

Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons