Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday ordered a major Cabinet revamp, naming Mohammed bin Naif as crown prince and deputy premier.
In a royal decree, King Salman also named Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman as deputy crown prince, second in line to the throne, in addition to his position as minister of defense and president of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Salman said he appointed Naif as heir to the throne after Crown Prince Muqrin requested to be relieved of the position he held since Salman ascended the throne following the death of King Abdullah in January.
Crown Prince Naif retains his position as minister of interior and president of the Council of Political and Security Affairs.
Other changes saw veteran Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal stepping down from his post for health reasons but continuing as a cabinet minister as well as becoming adviser to and special envoy of the king and supervisor of foreign affairs.
Adel Al-Jubeir, the current ambassador to the United States, will assume the role of Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister.
Saudi Aramco Chief Executive and President Khalid al-Faleh takes over the reins at the Ministry of Health after the previous minister was removed earlier this month.
Mohammed bin Suleiman Al-Jasser was relieved as minister of economy and planning and appointed as adviser at the Royal Court with the rank of minister.
Adel Fakeih, who was tasked with increasing the number of Saudis in the Kingdom’s workforce, leaves his position as labour minister to become minister of economy and planning.
Deputy labour minister Mofarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani succeeded Fakeih as labor minister.
Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Essa, erstwhile deputy chief of the Royal Court, was named minister of state and cabinet member as well as member of the Council of Political and Security Affairs.
Prince Mansour bin Muqrin was named adviser to the king with the rank of minister.
Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Suweilem was named chief of the Royal Court and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Yousef chairman of Board of Grievances with minister’s rank.
Also appointed were Nasser bin Rajeh bin Mohammed Al-Shahrani as deputy president of Human Rights Commission, Amro bin Ibrahim Rajab as deputy chief of the Cabinet’s Bureau of Experts, and Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour as assistant general president of Youth Welfare.
Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Jasser, deputy minister of culture and information, was given an additional job as president of Radio and Television Commission, replacing Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Hazza.
Relieved from their posts were Norah bint Abdullah Al-Fayez as deputy minister of education for girls affairs, Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh as deputy minister of education for boys affairs, Dr. Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al-Hawasi as deputy minister of health for health affairs, and Dr. Mohammed bin Hamza bin Bakr Khashim as deputy minister of health for planning and development.
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