Diplomatic sources revealed the secrets of the arrest of Prince Ahmad Abdul Aziz and the absence of King Salman from the political scene, as well as the soft coup of Muhammad bin Salman against his father.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency International Group: Diplomatic sources told the Saudi Leaks the secrets of the arrest of Prince Ahmed Abdulaziz and the absence of King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia at the time.
The sources told Saudi Lex that Prince Ahmad Abdul Aziz, a member of the family, is the last surviving member of the seven Sudiri brothers and King Salman’s half-brother.
Prince Ahmed left Saudi Arabia for London in November 2017 before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s campaign to arrest royal princes at the Ritz Hotel in Riyadh. He then returned to Saudi Arabia in October 2018 after receiving security guarantees from the United States and European countries whose lives will be spared and not confined inside the country, but in March 2020 with former Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef on charges of treason.
There is nothing new here, as bin Salman abused members of the royal family to increase his chances of ascending the throne, but what stands out is the connection between the arrest of Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz and the complete absence of King Salman. It is from the political scene that he spends his time in Neom and does not meet with any of the princes and officials.
Before the arrest of Prince Ahmed on March 7, 2020, King Salman played his natural role as a king, receiving kings and government officials, attending the appointments of ministers and ambassadors, sharing joys and sorrows, meeting with members of the ruling family, and entertaining Citizens’ delegations did, but after the arrest of Prince Ahmed, the Saudi king was absent from all these assemblies!
Examples of King Salman’s activities before March 7, 2020 are: He went to Oman on January 13 to offer condolences on the death of Sultan Qaboos and received the Cypriot Foreign Minister on January 19.
King Salman also received princes, muftis and citizens on January 20 and offered a funeral prayer for Prince Bandar bin Mohammed on January 21 and chaired a cabinet meeting on January 21 and 28.
The King of Saudi Arabia attended the closing ceremony of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival on January 26th and hosted the Prime Minister of Kuwait on February 11th. The ministers of sports, tourism and investment also took the oath of office on February 26 in front of King Salman. He received the President of Mauritania on February 26 and the President of Algeria, Abdel Majid Taboun, on February 27.
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All the examples mentioned show the frequent meetings and activities of the King of Saudi Arabia and his normal follow-up in Saudi affairs. But King Salman’s two meetings before the arrest of Prince Ahmad Abdul Aziz on March 7, 2020, came to the fore. The first was his reception for the US Secretary of State on February 20 and the second was his reception for the British Foreign Secretary on March 5. After a meeting with the British official a day and a half later, Prince Ahmed and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were arrested.
King Salman’s meeting with the US and British foreign ministers may include an understanding or pressure on the need to remove bin Salman from the throne.
Observers believe that King Salman may have succumbed to pressure in this regard, but Ibn Salman stepped forward and arrested his cousin and son, and removed the king from the princes arrested in Neom.
This means that Bin Salman not only got rid of his rivals in the royal family, but also carried out a soft coup against his father, the king!
King Salman has not met with any Arab or foreign leaders or officials for nearly two years, except for a meeting with the Sultan of Oman in July 2021 (which was a sham).
King Salman’s activities are limited to telephone calls and video appearances (in short films) at cabinet meetings and other activities.
Whether Bin Salman arrested his father or not, it is certain that he will not hesitate to do so, because he is the one who abused his cousins, arrested his mother and brother, and had previously intended to kill King Abdullah.
Observers unanimously believe that Muhammad ibn Salman’s turbulent personality does not prevent him from limiting his father’s role.