The sultan’s three cousins stand the best chance.
Following the death of Oman’s ruler His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said who did not leave behind a publicly named successor, there is speculation over who will be the next ruler of the Sultanate.
“I have already written down two names, in descending order, and put them in sealed envelopes in two different regions,” Sultan Qaboos said in a 1997 interview when asked about the succession.
The protocol, as per a statute enacted in 1996, says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant. A Royal Family Council has been asked by the country’s Defence Council to convene in order to determine who shall assume power.
If they fail to arrive at a consensus, a council of military and security officials, supreme court chiefs and heads of the two assemblies will put in power the person appointed by the sultan in his letter.
Oman observers say the sultan’s three cousins – Assad, Shihab and Haitham bin Tariq al-Said – stand the best chance.
The Defence Council of Oman today issued a statement stating that, as per the protocol, the Council has called upon the Royal Family Council to convene in order to determine who shall assume power.
“In implementation of Article (2-A) of Royal Decree No. 105/96, on the Defence Council, the Defence Council has called upon the Royal Family Council to convene in order to determine who shall assume power,” it said in the statement published by Oman’s state news agency.
The Defence Council was convened under the chairmanship of Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office, Acting Chairman of the Defence Council, and in the presence of all its members:
>Lt. Gen Hassan bin Mohsen al-Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs.
>Lt. Gen Said bin Ali al-Hilali, Head of the Internal Security Service.
>Lt. Gen Ahmed bin Harith al-Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.
>Maj. Gen Mattar bin Salim al-Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman.
>Air Vice Marshal Mattar bin Ali al-Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman.
>Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al-Ra’eesi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman.
>Maj. Gen Khalifa bin Abdullah al-Junaibi, Commander of the Royal Guard of Oman.
