Saudi Arabia is making its mark by bringing in various reforms, particularly those that benefit the women and the younger generation.
Saudi Arabia has replaced some of its top military officers in a shake-up that elevates a younger generation, brings a woman into a senior government job.
In a reshuffle announced late on Monday, the military chief of staff, air defense and land forces heads and senior defense and interior ministry officials were removed. Tamadur bint Youssef Al Ramah became deputy labor minister, a rare high-level job for a woman in the kingdom.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who at 32 is also defense minister and heir apparent, has promised reforms to wean Saudi Arabia off oil exports, create jobs and open up Saudis’ cloistered lifestyles. The latest personnel changes were decreed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and published in state media.
READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia’s King sacked top officials including Military Chief
The new military chief of staff was named as First Lieutenant Fayyad bin Hamed Al Ruwayli. His predecessor, First Lieutenant Abdelrahman bin Saleh Al-Banyan, was retired and made a royal adviser. The decrees included adopting a new strategy to restructure the defense ministry for improved organization and governance but provided few details.
Khalid Biyari, the appointed aide to the defense minister, left his post as chief executive of Saudi Telecom, a possible sign that the crown prince is tapping the private sector to implement reforms.
The overhaul was a nod to a younger generation, analysts said, in what has become a hallmark of the Crown Prince’s approach to ruling youthful Saudi Arabia.
Post Your Comments