Saudi King Salman orders Cabinet shake-up

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued a royal order demanding a Cabinet reshuffle, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The decree appoints former Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Adel Al Jubeir. Mr Al Jubeir will now be Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The order also calls for Prince Abdullah bin Bandar to replace Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah as chief of the National Guard, and named Gen Khalid bin Qirar Al Harbi as general security chief.

Musaed Al Aiban was appointed National Security Adviser.

The order also calls for a reorganisation of the Council of Political and Security Affairs, one of two sub-Cabinet committees in government, comprising the head of intelligence and nine ministers.

The other sub-Cabinet committee, the Council of Economic and Development Affairs to which 22 ministers report, will also be reshaped.

The decree also appoints a woman, Eiman Al Mutairi, to the post of assistant to the Minister of Commerce and Investment.

Ms Al Mutairi’s appointment was part of a wider attempt to include more women in government.

It was widely applauded by Saudis on social media networks.

The order reassigned the kingdom’s ambassador to the UK, Mohammed bin Nawwaf, to adviser for King Salman.

Prince Faisal bin Khalid has been removed as Governor of the Asir Region at his own request.

Prince Faisal was appointed an adviser to the king with the rank of minister.

The reasons for the reshuffle were not immediately clear.