Change of Two Key Ministers and Widespread Arrests in Saudi Arabia

The King of Saudi Arabia has changed two key figures in the country's policymaking and leadership mechanism and has ordered the arrest of several princes, current and former ministers. King Salman issued the order for the change of two key leadership figures in the country. Estimates suggest that these changes are aimed at consolidating the power of Mohammed bin Salman, the young crown prince. On Sunday morning, November 5, an order was issued for the arrest of 11 princes, four current ministers, and dozens of former ministers and officials. These arrests were carried out under the supervision of the Anti-Corruption Committee, which is chaired by Mohammed bin Salman. The names and identities of the detainees and the details of the charges against them have not been disclosed. However, the Associated Press, citing officials from King Holding, reports that Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, the head of this company, is among those arrested. Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, a Saudi billionaire, is one of the wealthiest individuals in West Asia and has invested in various companies, including Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch's news agency, and Citigroup. Two new ministers have also been appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia for key ministries in internal security and the economy. According to an official announcement from the Saudi monarchy published on the state television Al Arabiya, Khalid bin Ayaf has taken over the command of the National Guard (al-Haras al-Watani) from Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah. The Saudi National Guard is one of the three main branches of the armed forces of the country and is managed under a ministry of the same name. At one time, before the rise of Mohammed bin Salman, the current crown prince, Mutaib bin Abdullah was mentioned as one of the main figures in the potential leadership of Saudi Arabia. Mutaib bin Abdullah was the last direct member of the family of King Abdullah, the former king of Saudi Arabia, who controlled an important part of the leadership apparatus of Saudi Arabia. Previously, last summer, Reuters reported on the transition of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and the power shift from Mohammed bin Nayef to Mohammed bin Salman, citing Saudi sources that only three people opposed this transition: the representative of the Abdullah family at the head of the leadership apparatus, Prince Mohammed bin Saad, and the former Minister of Interior. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the twelfth son of Abdulaziz Al Saud, passed away in February 2015. According to the Saudi royal decree, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Mohammed bin Tuwaijri, has also taken over the leadership of this ministry in place of his superior, Adel Fakeih. Salman bin Abdulaziz, the King of Saudi Arabia, appointed his 32-year-old son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince in June 2017, replacing Mohammed bin Nayef. The crown prince of Saudi Arabia has promised to implement reforms in the political, social, economic, and cultural structure of the country based on a program known as 'Vision 2030' and to change some of the extremely conservative and strict laws and regulations in Saudi Arabia.