Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has sent a clear message that the old way of doing business and trying to keep Saudi Arabia under wraps are over. The prince, who is only 32, is one of the modern educated men in the Kingdom. He has a clear view of making the Saudi nation break the shackles that have bound it. He wants to go forward, but he has realized that he cannot have his own way in case he did not break the power of the princes who ran the country almost like a fiefdom.
According to the New York Times, he has ordered the arrest of 38 prominent businessmen, including 11 princes.
This was nothing short of a coup and took his opponents by surprise. There is a possibility that he acted to forestall a coup against him.
Crown prince
The Crown Prince is also deputy prime minister and minister of defense. His elevation as the heir apparent did give rise to some resistance and rumors are that the top royal princes who met were not in favor. Saudi Arabia has been ruled like a medieval kingdom, where the son continued to hold the position his father held. The late King Abdullah headed the National Guard for decades, and his son Miteb bin Abdullah took over once he passed away. The kingdom has many such examples.
Breaking fiefdom
Crown Prince Mohammed has broken this fiefdom and in a lightning move, consolidated his power.
His first move resulted in the removal of Prince Miteb, who was head of the head of the National Guard. He was the son of the last king and a powerful figure. In another move, billionaire international investor Alwaleed bin Talal was arrested. All the arrested persons are being kept in five-star hotels and forbidden to leave the country.
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The future
Crown Prince Mohammed must be complimented for his actions. He has spoken of a more modern Saudi Arabia and has said that he wanted a moderate form of Islam, which is open to the world and other religions. He has also given many rights to women, that for decades were never considered.
But political liberalization is not on the cards. Many have been arrested for what may seem trivial offenses against the monarchy.
The message is unambiguous that he wants an absolute monarchy so that he can mold Saudi Arabia the way he wants it. It will take a few years to assess whether he was successful. However, there is a fly in the appointment as the prince seems to have missed an important point, that in the 21st century, absolute monarchy is an anachronism.
