King Salman overhauls security services
DUBAI: Saudi King Salman decreed the consolidation of counter-terrorism and domestic intelligence in a major overhaul of the security apparatus weeks after the interior minister was ousted from the royal succession.
The string of late night royal decrees also ordered a shake-up of senior personnel, replacing the head of the royal guard and elevating the head of the newly created Presidency of State Security, Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al-Howairini, and his deputy to the rank of ministers.
The moves centralises authority in security matters to the king and his young son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has made a rapid rise to the pinnacle of power at the expense of his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
The decrees published by the state news agency said the changes were made in order ”to face all security challenges with a high degree of flexibility and readiness and the ability to move quickly to face any emergency”.
The move removes important authorities from the Interior Ministry, which was run by Mohammed bin Nayef, also known as MbN, until last month when he was stripped of his positions and removed as crown prince.
MbN has long been considered a steady partner for security cooperation with the West as the kingdom sought to quell militant groups al-Qaeda and Islamic State both domestically and abroad.
Thursday’s orders also raised the head of Mohammed bin Salman’s personal office to the rank of minister.
A Saudi analyst described the move as a long-overdue reform that would benefit the state but said it “clips the wings of the Interior Ministry and bolsters the powers of the king”. — Reuters