While analysts were puzzling over who would succeed Sultan Qaboos, Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq was quietly drawing up plans for the personnel and policies he would need if – and when – he took over from the ailing ruler. GSN understands that the recent spate of key appointments and policy announcements are the fruit of thinking that evolved while the sultan’s uncle, who died one year ago, was still alive. These moves are refashioning Oman as Haitham would like – with the prospect of a few more eye-catching announcements to come as the sultan completes the initial implementation of his plans.
Issue 1118 - 21 January 2021
Oman
Politics
There was no great surprise when prime minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah’s government resigned in mid-January: this had been widely expected amid rising tensions between the executive and the National Assembly (parliament) in the period since the 5 December general election. In a three-stage process, deputy prime minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah offered the resignation of all cabinet ministers at a meeting with Sheikh Sabah at Seif Palace on 12 January.
Issue 1118 - 21 January 2021
Kuwait
Politics
GSN
GSN
Research
Research