When Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ascended the throne after the death of King Abdullah, it was clearly evident that a new phase has begun. In the first week after assuming power, the King took a number of bold decisions that were interpreted by observers as representing a new direction with regard to reform, combating corruption and reining in the bureaucracy that obstructs the smooth functioning of the nation by hampering its internal and external administration. The royal decrees issued last Wednesday clearly signaled the new direction which has been evident since King Salman ascended the throne. Perhaps the most important of these decisions was the transfer of power from the second generation to the third generation of the ruling dynasty. King Salman has accepted the request of Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz to relieve him of his duties as crown prince, and appointed Prince Muhammad Bin Naif as his successor. Prince Muhammad Bin Salman was appointed deputy crown prince following a proposal from Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif. This was an unprecedented development in the history of power transfer from one generation to another in such a smooth and satisfactory way. King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman paid a visit to the residence of Prince Muqrin on the night after accepting his request to relieve him of his duties. Prince Muqrin's act gives the impression that he realized that this was the right time for young leaders from the third generation to shoulder the responsibility of ruling the state. It was also obvious that Prince Muqrin was aware that his elder brother King Salman had also come to the same realization. His decision coincided with the sagacious vision of the King in serving the best interests of the nation, governance and the royal family. Hence Prince Muqrin made up his mind to ask to be relieved of his duties as crown prince in favor of Prince Muhammad Bin Naif after seeing in him the most suitable candidate to deal with challenges which the Kingdom and the region as a whole are facing. The cable received by Prince Muqrin from King Salman shows the magnitude of royal appreciation for his services and sacrifices in the cause of the nation. It was obvious from the following words of the King: “We have received your request for resignation in which the feelings of loyalty and true brotherhood are evident. My dear brother, there is nothing unusual in this as you have spent more than half a century in serving your nation and shouldering your responsibilities with trust, honesty and sincerity. All of us and the nation take pride in your efforts and services and you will continue ro remain close to us as well as to your nation and your brothers.” King Salman also sent a similar cable to Prince Saud Al-Faisal, who stepped down after serving as the minister of foreign affairs for four decades. The King said in the cable: “We have received your request to be relieved of your duties due to your health condition. Your request embodies feelings of sincere loyalty to your religion, King and homeland. There is nothing unusual in it as you are well-known to us and to the entire world over a period spanning 40 years moving around the capitals and cities, clarifying the policies of your nation while carrying its flag, and making sacrifices with your time and health to serve the interests of the nation as well as those of the Arab and Islamic Ummah. As we know, you were sincere in work, trustworthy in performance, loyal to the religion and nation. For the nation, you were the best ambassador and for the leaders you were the best choice. God knows that realizing your request was one of the most difficult matters. However, we value highly your circumstances and your feelings. We responded favorably to fulfill your desire after your repeated insistence, and you will be close to us like the work you loved and for which you worked hard.” These feelings expressed by King Salman toward Prince Muqrin and Prince Saud did not prevent him from accepting their request to be relieved of their duties. This is because the new phase ushered in by King Salman's ascension to the throne warrants changes and renewal, keeping pace with the situation in the Kingdom and its position in the international arena. This phase also requires fresh blood and novel ideals coupled with dynamism and strategic vision in handling the complex situations globally as there is no longer any country or people who live in isolation. There is no doubt that the decisions taken by King Salman and the changes made by him are for the purpose of serving the Saudi nation and people in the best manner. Subsequently, people have welcomed these initiatives and they pin great hope on the political, social and economic reforms that they have aspired to for a long time. There are several prominent figures who are close to the King or who had intimate interactions and association with him while he was the emir of Riyadh over a period of more than 50 years. While taking part in television programs and newspaper interviews, these people have emphasized the fact that the King is always keen to pursue reforms vigorously. Well-known academic and legal expert Ahmed Al-Tuwaijri is one of them. He described King Salman as the “founder of the fourth Saudi state”.
— Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
