Issue 859, 7 August 2009

Bandar ‘out of favour’ over alleged freelance contacts with disaffected military

Rumour and uncertainty continue to plague the high-profile former envoy to Washington

Controversy over the whereabouts of former Saudi ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdelaziz has been reignited by comments made on Iran’s Al-Alam TV by the exiled Islamist oppositionist Saad Al-Fagih. In comments picked up by some other regional media, Al-Fagih alleged that the former envoy was confined to his home because of “contacts” with officers in the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) and Royal Guard. It has not been possible to verify the claims but in a 5 August interview with GSN Fagih was insistent they had veracity.

Bandar, the son of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdelaziz, has reportedly not been seen in public for months. There is speculation that his standing with King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz had already been damaged by unconfirmed rumours of dealings with restive tribal chiefs in Syria.

Bandar has struggled to define a meaningful role in the Saudi power structure since his resignation from the Washington embassy. Observers said that his credibility in a new role as a roving diplomatic representative was destroyed when it emerged he had acted without Abdullah’s authority to develop contacts with the Israelis. These moves were subsequently disowned by Riyadh.

Abdullah made Bandar chair of a new National Intelligence Council to give him a suitably prestigious public role. This move was reportedly encouraged by the administration of then US president George W Bush, who had regarded the prince as a close ally and believed the NIC would provide a platform for future influence. But the role has proved a largely empty one. Intelligence activities remain firmly under the leadership of Prince Miqrin Bin Abdelaziz, head of the General Intelligence Directorate and a close confidant of the King. Both the Ministry of Defence, headed by his father Sultan, and the Ministry, of Interior headed by Prince Nayef Bin Abdelaziz, have joined the SANG – Abdullah’s traditional fief – in sending only junior functionaries to the NIC.

Al-Fagih’s claims raise the most dramatic questions yet about Bandar’s position. Speaking to GSN, Al-Fagih alleged that the prince had failed to win the support of his father Sultan, or his uncle Nayef, over allegations that he had been in contact with officers of the security forces. He alleged that Bandar based himself near Oxford, in the United Kingdom, while negotiating the terms of a return to Saudi Arabia. Al-Fagih claimed that after his return he was interviewed by officials. There are claims that up to 200 security forces officers are now in detention, and that at least one friendly government has provided intelligence to help Abdullah and his inner circle deal with the situation.

Power plays and manoeuvres are a routine feature of Al-Saud dynastic life (GSN 858/1,857/7, 854/6, 853/11). But there is an understanding about what is acceptable behaviour. Maintaining a public image of family unity is a key priority for Abdullah as he seeks to keep rifts and mistrust within the Al-Saud tent – such as the rumoured resentment of Princes Mitaeb Bin Abdelaziz and Talal Bin Abdelaziz at Nayef’s appointment earlier this year as second deputy premier (GSN 851/1).

The King recently visited Sultan at the Crown Prince’s holiday residence in Agadir, Morocco. Sultan, who has spent months abroad receiving medical treatment, is expected to return to Saudi Arabia for Ramadan, which begins around 22 August. There are plans for a public appearance with King Abdullah.