DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s crown prince implied to send a strong message to critics within the royal family by apprehending senior princes this weekend: Do not you attempt oppose my succession to the throne.
FILE PICTURE: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman goes to a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, September 18,2019 Mandel Ngan/Pool through REUTERS
The primary target in the crackdown, sources said, is King Salman’s sibling, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, one of only 3 members of the Loyalty Council, the royal body that endorses the line of succession, to oppose Mohammed bin Salman ending up being crown prince in 2017 in a palace coup.
Four sources with royal connections said the relocation intended to guarantee compliance within the judgment Al Saud household, in which there have actually been rumblings of discontent, ahead of an eventual succession upon the king’s death or abdication.
One of the sources described the detentions as a preemptive effort to ensure Prince Mohammed’s “climb will be rubber marked by the Obligation Council when the time comes”.
Ahmed, 78, was apprehended on Friday together with Mohammed bin Nayef, who was crown prince till he was ousted in 2017 and changed by Mohammed bin Salman. Ahmed’s boy Nayef and Mohammed’s sibling Nawaf were likewise detained, said two other sources with royal connections.
The princes have actually been held at royal rental properties in the capital Riyadh and some were enabled to contact their households, those sources stated.
Crown Prince Mohammed, who has actually moved ruthlessly to tighten his grip on power, feared disaffected princes might rally around Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef as potential options to take the throne, said 2 of the sources with royal connections, and a senior foreign diplomat.
” This is a preparation for transferring power,” stated among those sources. “It is a clear message to the family that nobody can say ‘No’ or