Big trouble brewing in Saudi Arabian Royal clan?

Big trouble brewing in Saudi Arabian Royal clan? (FR24).


A power struggle is emerging between Saudi Arabia's two most powerful princes, analysts and diplomats say, as the secretive kingdom confronts some of its biggest challenges in years.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's 56-year-old nephew, is first in line to the throne but Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, believed to be about 30, is Salman's son and a rising power.

Mohammed bin Nayef is interior minister while Mohammed bin Salman runs the defence ministry, and their growing rivalry is making itself felt, experts say.

In the months since, the younger Mohammed bin Salman has moved to shore up his power, analysts say.

"A lot of people see this as a kind of a coup... that it's one faction taking power for itself," says Stephane Lacroix, a specialist in Saudi Arabia at Sciences Po university in Paris.

Moqren's case shows that "this position of deputy crown prince is a bit precarious," and helps explain why Mohammed bin Salman has been reinforcing his position, a Western diplomat says.

In addition to being defence minister, Mohammed bin Salman heads the kingdom's main economic coordinating council as well as a body overseeing Saudi Aramco, the state oil company in the world's biggest petroleum exporter.

"Mohammed bin Salman is clearly amassing extraordinary power and influence very quickly. This is bound to unsettle his rivals," Wehrey says.

The deputy crown prince "has this need to structure his position to become, at the moment his father dies, irreplaceable" because he has no assurances of how Mohammed bin Nayef, as king, would treat him, another foreign diplomat says.

Mohammed bin Salman, who has a close relationship with his father, has been "acting as if he was the heir apparent, so this obviously creates tensions," Lacroix says.

But there has not been a broader move against the interior minister, who is widely respected abroad for having led Saudi efforts against Al-Qaeda and other jihadists.

"I think they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they cut Mohammed bin Nayef out," the Western diplomat says.

"He's well-respected. He's the one guy in the West who is trusted, particularly on counter-terrorism."

The crown prince has the loyalty of interior ministry forces, and most members of the royal family would support his ultimate rise to the throne as "something normal," the other diplomat says.

For now, analysts and diplomats say, the rivalry appears contained and there is little chance that the House of Saud will implode.

"People have been writing off the al-Saud for a long time for various reasons," the Western diplomat says. "They're still here... still an island of stability in the Middle East." Hmmm....The Saudis 'Island of peace and stability' LOL. Read the full story here.

ISIS Prime target? Anger as access to French beach is restricted for vacationing Saudi royal family.

ISIS Prime target? Anger as access to French beach is restricted for vacationing Saudi royal family.(AN).

Decision by French authorities to restrict access to a beach near a villa owned by Saudi King Salman and work at the site have generated anger on the French Riviera.

The Saudi monarch is expected to arrive shortly on a family vacation. The decision by the Grasse Prefecture to restrict access to "La Mirandole" beach at Golfe-Juan, in the town of Vallauris, where the king’s villa (pictured) is located, has not been welcomed.

Nestled in the rocks between the coastal railway and the translucent waters of the Mediterranean, the royal family's immense villa stretches across a kilometre of Riviera coastline. During the royal’s stay, coastguards will stop anyone coming within 300 metres of the villa by sea.

"Looking after their security is fine, but they should at least let us go for a swim," said a disgruntled local.

When Saudi security provide the date of the “king’s arrival, with a 24 hours notice, the beach will be off limits to everyone,” said Grasse Sub-Prefect Philippe Castanet.

Last week, workers hired by the Saudis started building a fence to close off access to the beach, but were ordered to stop. Conversely, and despite the lack of a permit, local authorities have allowed work on an elevator to continue on condition that it be dismantled when the family vacation ends.

Work is also underway in the villa. New, bulletproof glass is going in, as well as new shrubs and flowers.

According to French media, King Salman is coming with an entourage of 400 people, including a medical team.

Notice the distance to where the explosives were stolen and the Royal villa.

Related?: Cache of explosives, detonators and grenades stolen from French army base in the South of France.

A cache of explosives, detonators and grenades have been stolen from an army base in the south of France.

The high-security army base is located in the town of Miramis around 60 kilometers west of Marseille.

The mayor of Miramis, Frederic Vigouroux, said everything stolen is “inherently dangerous.”

“There is a reinforced double wire fence, we have patrols, there are dogs, every type of security the military can provide. There are munitions, it’s not just a police station,” said Vigouroux .

A police official said the burglars appear to have cut through the fence to get into the base.

The Marseille prosecutor said an investigation is underway into charges of “fraudulent entry into a military compound.” Hmmmm.......In the South of France where most ISIS groupies are active. Just imagine if ISIS Would manage to take out the Suadi King?

180 détonateurs, pains de plastique et 40taine de grenades volés dans un entrepôt logistique de @armeedeterrefr à Miramas. #auditsecurite

— mpasquet (@Oser_Cest_Agir) July 7, 2015

Video - First Lady Michelle Obama wears no scarf or veil at meeting with Saudi King

Post by Shehab News Agency.

Later, at the king's Erga Palace, Mrs. Obama was one of the few women in the room (House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was there, too, also without a head scarf) filled with Saudi officials in full desert robes and headdresses.

The India trip was cut short by a day so that the Obamas could travel to Saudi Arabia to pay respects after the death of King Abdullah last week, and to meet with the new king.

Cultural norms in the Middle East in general can be tricky for westerners to negotiate when it comes to women and their attire in public. But it's not impossible, and attention to good manners helps: Over the years, Saudi kings have had no problem meeting Queen Elizabeth II. Hmmm......If i won't see the taj Mahal because of them, i surely won't cover up. 

Saudis on Twitter criticize Michelle Obama for visiting Saudi with her hair uncovered ...More here from AlAhram