Saudi Arabia: a year of change with a new crown prince
Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince of SA a year ago,shaking up the ultra-conservative oil power
RIYADH (AFP) - Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince of Saudi Arabia a year ago, shaking up the ultra-conservative oil power. Here is a rundown of developments:
Crown prince at 31
In a royal decree issued on June 21, 2017, King Salman ousts his nephew as crown prince and installs his 31-year-old son, Mohammed, as his heir.
Widely known as MBS, Prince Mohammed retains his role as defence minister. The move caps a meteoric rise for the young prince.
Crown Prince took charge of Defence Minister. Photo: File
It comes at the start of a major fallout with Qatar: Riyadh and three Arab allies severe ties with Doha the same month, accusing it of supporting "terrorists" and being too close to Saudi Arabia s archrival Iran. Qatar denies the charges.
Royal purge
Over several days in September 2017 authorities round up at least 20 people, including influential clerics and intellectuals, in what is condemned as a crackdown on dissent by the crown prince.
Around 380 royals, ministers and business tycoons are then arrested in November in a dramatic purge led by Prince Mohammed that the government says is a move against corruption.
Many are held for weeks in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Most are released after agreeing significant financial settlements.
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Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal released after two months detained in a charge of corruption. Photo: File
Reforms
The monarchy ends the world s only ban on female drivers by announcing in September 2017 that they will be able to take the wheel from June 2018.
It is the most striking of a series of reforms since the installation of Prince Mohammed, who is also the architect of a wide-ranging plan for social and economic change, called Vision 2030, that is approved before his appointment.
Driving Ban on women lifted in Saudi Arabia. Photo: File
Other reforms include reopening cinemas and allowing both sexes to attend concerts. However Saudi women remain under various restrictions and the authorities are accused of continuing crackdowns on rights activists.
Crisis in Lebanon
In November 2017 Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announces in a televised address from Riyadh that he is resigning, citing Iran s "grip" on his country.
Saudi Arabia is accused of forcing his hand to make a stand against the influence of Iran and its ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah.
Hariri, supported by Saudi Arabia for years, spends two weeks in Riyadh amid speculation he cannot leave, until France intervenes and he withdraws his resignation.
The Hariri family shares close ties with the Saudi royal clan. Photo: File
Yemen war
The crown prince in November 2017 accuses Iran of "direct military aggression" by supplying ballistic missiles to rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
Days before, Saudi forces intercepted a ballistic missile near Riyadh international airport that was fired by the rebels.
Riyadh entered the Yemeni conflict in 2015 at the head of an Arab military coalition supporting the government against the Iran-allied Huthi rebels.
Yemeni forces fire retaliatory ballistic missile at Riyadh
Nuclear Iran
Prince Mohammed says in March 2018 that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Riyadh will do so too. In an interview with CBS television, he also likens Iran s supreme leader with Hitler, saying he "wants to create his own project in the Middle East".
Riyadh holds deep reservations over the 2015 accord aimed at controlling Iran s nuclear ambitions and hails President Donald Trump s announcement in May that the United States is withdrawing from the deal.
Saudi Prince remarked Iran s Supreme Leader Khameini as Hitler. Photo: Collage
Charm offensive
In March the prince embarks on his first foreign tour as heir, visiting Egypt and Britain -- where he lunches with Queen Elizabeth II -- and spending two weeks in the United States, where he meets Trump and other political and industry leaders. He also goes to France and Spain.
Prince Salman met President Trump. Photo: File
Opening with Israel
In what appeared to be another shift, Prince Mohammed says in a magazine interview in April that Israelis as well as Palestinians "have the right to have their own land".
King Salman however later reaffirms Riyadh s "steadfast" support for the Palestinian cause.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Israel has right to homeland. Photo: Collage
