Manama: Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has replaced three ministers in a limited cabinet reshuffle announced late on Saturday.
In a series of announcements, King Salman removed and appointed a raft of ministers, emirs, deputy emirs and senior state officials.
He issued a decree naming his son Prince Khalid Bin Salman, an air force pilot who has taken part in coalition strikes against Daesh, as the kingdom’s new ambassador to the US. Prince Khalid will replace Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Turki, who had served in the post for just over a year.
Information and Cultural Minister Adel Al Toraifi was replaced by Awwad Bin Al Awwad, the ambassador to Germany, and Telecommunications and IT Minister Mohammad Al Suwaiyel was replaced by Abdullah Bin Amer Al Sawaha.
Civil Service Minister Khalid Al Arj was removed from his position and will be investigated by a special committee over reported irregularities. Saudi reports said that the former minister had appointed his son, a high school graduate, to a senior position within the ministry with a monthly salary of more than 21,000 Saudi Riyals.
The case against Al Arj was launched after a Saudi citizen reported the appointment on social media and took it to the national anti-corruption watchdog.
Essam Bin Saeed will be in charge of the ministry, while Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman was appointed minister of state for energy affairs and Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad as the secretary general of the Council of Ministers.
Five new deputy ministers were also named: Abdul Rahman Al Aasimi in education, Majed Al Bawardi in commerce and investment, Tariq Al Faris in municipal and rural affairs, Mansour Al Anzi in environment, water and agriculture and Saad Bin Abdul Aziz in transport.
The royal decrees also appointed Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saad as Emir of Hail, replacing Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen who was named as special adviser at the Royal Court, Prince Hossam Bin Saud as the new emir of Al Baha, replacing Prince Mushari Bin Saud, and Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Sultan as the emir of the Northern Border Province, taking over from Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah Bin Musaed.
King Salman also appointed as deputy emirs Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman in Riyadh, Prince Abdullah Bin Bandar in Makkah, Prince Saud Bin Khalid Bin Faisal in Madinah, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Aziz in Jazan, Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin in Asir, Prince Fahad Bin Turki in Al Qassim and Prince Turki Bin Hadloul in Najran. Ahmad Bin Abdullah was named governor of Diriyah.
Mohammad Abdul Malik Al Shaikh was named chairman of the General Authority of Sports, taking over from Prince Abdullah Bin Musaid Al Shaikh.
Under reforms being directed by the Deputy Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia is trying to make government operations more efficient and officials more accountable.
Head of army replaced
The head of the army, Lt. Gen. Eid Al Shalwi, was removed and named as consultant to the defense minister. He was replaced by Fahad bin Turki.
Spokesman of the Coalition Forces Ahmad Asiri was appointed deputy head of the General Intelligence.
A National Security Centre was linked to the royal court was set up.
School exams
King Salman also ordered that all school exams be held this year before the start of the sacred month of Ramadan, expected on May 26, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Several students have been calling for bringing forward the end of the year exams to avoid sitting for them during Ramadan. However, the ministry of education has resisted the call, arguing that students needed to be able to sit for exams under all conditions.
