A new generation of Saudi royals is set to take the reins of the kingdom, after the crown has passed among their fathers for more than 60 years. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a grandson of the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was promoted to crown prince Wednesday.
The appointment of Nayef, a 55-year-old who was previously deputy crown prince and is currently interior minister, means that barring any further succession changes – never a certainty in Saudi Arabia – King Salman will be the last son of founder Abdulaziz to rule the kingdom.
Nayef replaces Salman’s half-brother Prince Muqrin as crown prince, while Salman’s son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will now be deputy crown prince.
King Salman is the sixth son of Abdulaziz to rule the kingdom and is currently 79. However, the actual shift in power to the new generation may not be coming anytime soon; Salman's predecessor Abdullah ruled until he was 90.
Nayef, whose father was crown prince for a time under King Abdullah, is well-respected domestically and internationally for his efforts to stem Al-Qaeda’s influence in Saudi Arabia.
King Salman also replaced the long-serving foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, with Adel al-Jubeir, who is a not a royal but has served as ambassador to key ally the United States.