RIYADH--Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that King Salman bin
Abdulaziz had replaced his crown prince and foreign minister, in a
dramatic shuffling of his top officials.
The king replaced his younger half brother, Muqrin bin
Abdulaziz, as crown prince, appointing his nephew, Deputy Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as his new heir apparent. He also
appointed his son and the nation's defense minister, Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, as deputy crown prince, making him second in
line to the throne. The 29-year-old prince has been leading the
country's military operation in Yemen.
Veteran foreign minister Prince Saud Al Faisal is being replaced
by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., Adel al-Jubeir.
The changes were announced in a statement from the royal court
carried by the state-controlled Saudi Press Agency.
Prince Muqrin, the youngest surviving son of the kingdom's
founder, King Abdulaziz, was relieved of his post "upon his
request," according to the court's statement.
The court said Prince Saud, who became foreign minister in 1975,
asked to step down for health reasons. He will continue to
supervise foreign affairs as a state minister.
Mr. al-Jubeir has been the kingdom's ambassador to the U.S.
since 2006. He will become the first foreign minister from outside
the royal family since 1962 and only the kingdom's second nonroyal
foreign minister.
In another royal decree, King Salman ordered a one-month salary
bonus for members of armed and security forces who have been
engaged in the military campaign in Yemen since late March.
Khaled al-Faleh, the chief executive of state-owned oil company
Saudi Aramco, was appointed health minister. Labor Minister Adel
Fakeih was moved to lead the ministry of economy and planning.
Norah al-Faiz, the most senior female official in Saudi Arabia,
was removed from her position as deputy education minister.
The king called on the royal family to pledge allegiance to the
new crown prince and his deputy at Al-Hokom Palace in the capital,
Riyadh, later Wednesday.
Write to Ahmed Al Omran at Ahmed.AlOmran@wsj.com
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