Saudi king names Mohammad bin Salman crown prince

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has appointed Mohammed bin Salman as the Kingdom’s crown prince, the official Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.

The King relieved Mohammed bin Nayef from his role as crown prince, replacing him with Prince Mohammed, the country’s defense minister and deputy crown prince.

King Salman called for a public pledging of allegiance in Makkah on Wednesday to the new crown prince.

A royal decree has amended Article V from the Kingdom’s statute of ruling, which stipulates that only the sons and grandsons of the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud can be Saudi kings and crown princes, SPA said. 

The 31-year-old crown prince will continue in his role as defense minister, according to a royal decree.

The announcement follows a series of high profile appointments made by King Salman this month, such as the naming of Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah bin Mubarak Al-Mojib as the new public prosecutor, and Colonel General Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Hilal as head of the General Directorate of Public Security.

Prince Mohammed, who oversees the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, has led the Kingdom’s fiscal reform efforts aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil.

The prince embarked on major overseas trips this year, including a visit to the White House in March to meet US President Donald Trump. 

Crown Prince Mohammad accepting allegiance from the former CP Mohammd bin Naief - via @Badermasaker pic.twitter.com/vXdPmejrUv

— فيصل بن فرحان (@FaisalbinFarhan) June 21, 2017