The Saudi royal family has been experiencing increasing tension as a result of the failed policies and plans implemented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that members of the royal family expressed in secret conversations their dissatisfaction with MBS’ policies.
MBS has strengthened his grip on power after arresting prominent princes and ministers, the sources added, noting that many decisions taken since he took office in June 2017 sparked widespread anger within the ruling family.
Members of the ruling family expressed serious concern over the growing popular anger in the kingdom.
The sources confirmed that Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz expressed his dissatisfaction with MBS’ decisions, mainly his decision to close the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the COVID-19 outbreak. He also declared his total support for Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz to assume power in place of MBS.
Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz is the youngest brother of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the thirty-first son of the founding king, Abdulaziz Al Saud, from his wife Hessa Al-Sudairy. He enjoys the support of the royal family, the security services, and some Western powers.
Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz also enjoys official influence as a member of the Allegiance Council, which includes 34 princes from King Abdulaziz’s sons and grandsons. The council’s mission is to secure the transition of power within the Al Saud family.
However, King Salman has added several amendments since assuming power after the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in January 2015, paving the way for his son, MBS.
On April 29, 2015, King Salman issued a number of royal orders, including exempting Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz from the mandate of the Covenant “at his request,” appointing Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz as crown prince, and designating MBS as heir to the crown.
On June 21, 2017, King Salman issued a royal order relieving Prince Muhammad bin Nayef of his position as crown prince, in what many considered a “white coup” to choose MBS as crown prince.
The exclusion of Prince Muhammad bin Nayef from the mandate of the Covenant was considered the most important step to pave the way for MBS, especially after not appointing Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz as Crown Prince of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Prince Ahmed was one of three princes in the Allegiance Council who opposed MBS assuming the mandate of the Covenant. He then left in November 2017 for the United Kingdom, days before the massive crackdown on dozens of princes and ministers over alleged corruption charges.
In October 2018, Prince Ahmed returned to the Kingdom after receiving British and American promises that he would not be detained, following his sharp criticism of MBS’s failed policies in Yemen and the journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
The sources pointed out that several arrests were carried out against senior military officers related to the Yemen war.
