A number of Saudi princes fear facing the same fate as former Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef who has been under house arrest since a coup which saw Mohammed Bin Salman named as his replacement, Twitter user Mujtahidd has revealed.
Mujtahidd, who often publishes leaks from within the Saudi royal family which have later been proven to be true, added that Bin Salman tried to convince Prince Mutaib Bin Abdullah, the 65-year-old head of the Saudi National Guard, to step down so he could appoint one of his sons to the position. However, Prince Mutaib refused and warned Bin Salman against taking such a reckless decision.
كما علمت مصادر مجتهد أن ابن سلمان حاول إقناع متعب بن عبدالله بالتخلي عن الحرس وتعيين أحد أبنائه فرفض وحذر م ب س من التهور بقرار مثل هذا
— مجتهد (@mujtahidd) July 25, 2017
However, Prince Mutaib “then went to Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz and asked him to help put an end to the recklessness of Bin Salman but he found Ahmed himself afraid of being placed under house arrest.” Prince Ahmed is Bin Salman’s uncle.
وعلمت مصادر مجتهد أن متعب ذهب بعدها إلى أحمد بن عبدالعزيز واستعان به في إيقاف تهور ابن سلمان فوجد أحمد ذاته متخوفا أن تفرض عليه إقامة جبرية
— مجتهد (@mujtahidd) July 25, 2017
The appointment of Bin Salman as Crown Prince, in addition to his appointment of a number of close associates to important positions in the Kingdom, has provoked tensions within the royal family. The move by King Salman means that rule has passed to King Abdulaziz’s grandsons and not his sons as has previously occurred.