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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTop Saudi Royal Family Members Detained
Saudi Arabian authorities detained two of the kingdoms most prominent figures for an alleged coup attempt, further consolidating the power of the kings son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and clearing away once-formidable rivals to the throne, according to people familiar with the matter.
The detentions occurred early Friday morning when guards from the royal court wearing masks and dressed in black arrived at the homes of the two men, took them into custody and searched their homes, according to people familiar with the matter.
Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud, a brother of Saudi King Salman, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al Saud, the kings nephew known as MBN, were both accused of treason, the people said. The guards also arrested one of MBNs brothers.
The Saudi royal court accused the two men of plotting a coup to unseat the king and crown prince, according to people familiar with the situation.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/top-saudi-royal-family-members-detained/ar-BB10QULa?li=BBnb7Kz
Probably just Prince Bonesaw consolidating his power.
JDC
(10,137 posts)juxtaposed
(2,778 posts)sabbat hunter
(6,838 posts)if it was both. Before Crown Prince Salman came along, the title of king of Saudi Arabia passed from one son of Saud to another. They were probably hoping to wrest control back from MBS to give it to King Salman's brother Ahmed. MBS then used this opportunity to further consolidate his rule from behind the throne.
BTW King Ibn Saud died in 1953. He must have been having kids up until the year he died, considering how many he still has around, vying for power.
Me.
(35,454 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,400 posts)after Trump came to power.
I just finished reading chapter 14 in Bob Woodward's book, Fear. While reading the chapter I began to think that it seemed like someone from the Trump Administration intervened in Saudi politics to get Mohammed Bin Salman appointed the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Before the Trump Administration started working with Saudi Arabia, the crown prince was Mohammed Bin Nayef, King Salman's nephew. However, Jared Kushner wanted to do business with MBS instead of Nayef. Even though intelligence officials told Kushner of the problems that could be caused by working with MBS instead of Nayef, Kushner insisted on working with MBS. As Kushner was trying to setup his father-in-law's first foreign trip and an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, his go to person was MBS. Kushner even angered intelligence officials by inviting MBS to a White House meeting. Since MBS was only the deputy crown prince it was against protocol to give him a White House lunch with the President.
A few months after the White House meeting, Donald Trump went on his trip to Saudi Arabia and announced a $110 billion arms deals with Saudi Arabia and Saudi investments in the United States. About a month after that trip MBS was named the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Maybe MBS was just smart and understood how to used the arms deal to get himself a promotion. However, it is possible that Kushner's desire to work with MBS and his lack of desire/willingness to work with Nayef is what got MBS elevated to the role of crown prince. Maybe Kushner was right to believe that MBS was going to be the future of Saudi Arabia, but it is also possible that Kushner and other members of the Trump Administration pushed for MBS to be the crown prince because they thought, due to his age (he is slightly younger than Kushner), it would be easier to control him.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211459983
May be true, may not. Seth Abramson has posted the link.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/crown-prince-bin-salman-bribed-trump-saudi-twitter-whistleblower-claims
Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally bribed Donald Trump with $1bn during the US presidents visit to Riyadh in May, an anonymous Saudi commentator, who uses the Twitter handle Mujtahidd, has claimed.
Bin Salman, then-deputy crown prince, was able to win the US administration's favour in his power struggle with his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef, who was heir to the throne until he was deposed in June.
Middle East Eye has not been able to verify Mujtahidd's allegations at the time of publication. Mutjahidd has almost two million followers on Twitter and claims to have reliable sources close to the royal palace.
Mujtahidd claimed on Monday that Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia changed Washingtons stance on the competition between bin Salman and bin Nayef, forcing the US to take the 32-year-olds side.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212863672
Got to get rid of the rivals.