-
HAMID AL QASMI
1.5
Sultan Qabus died at the age of 79.
—-
Keystone
2.5
His successor is Cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said.
—-
Keystone
3.5
The 65-year-old will now rule the country.
—-
AFP
4.5
After Sultan Kabus’ death, a three-day mourning was proclaimed.
—-
AFP
5.5
Almost five million people live in the Muslim country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, which is almost the same size as Germany.
—-
—-
The Sultan of Oman, Qabus bin Said, died on Friday evening at the age of 79 from complications from cancer. The state media reported on Saturday. Qabus, supported by the West, has ruled Oman since 1970. He came to the throne with the help of the colonial power of Great Britain. Qabus has no children and had not publicly named a successor.
–
The sultan had provided for the day with a letter. In it, he specified who should be his successor. The sealed envelope was opened on Saturday in the country’s Defense Council and then the deceased’s last will was read out. The new sultan will be cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said (65). He took his oath on Saturday.
–
The 65-year-old is a member of the royal family and has held several political positions in Oman, including as Secretary General of the State Department. Most recently, he was the country’s culture minister.
–
Big challenges
The new sultan faces major challenges. Similar to Saudi Arabia, his household is largely made up of oil money that will one day run out. The region also remains conflict-ridden. Oman is experiencing the Iran crisis and the civil war in neighboring Yemen up close. Like his predecessor, Sultan Haitham wants to act as an intermediary and maintain good relationships with everyone. A lot of work is waiting for him. And a people whose love he must first earn.
–
After Sultan Qabus’ death, a three-day mourning was proclaimed. Almost five million people live in the Muslim country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, which is almost the same size as Germany.
–
The people loved their “father”. Even though the Omanis were denied real participation. Sultan Qabus died after a serious illness and for almost 50 years as ruler of the Arab state.
–
«There were no gardens, no streets»
When he took power on July 23, 1970 and banished his father to the old part, the country had only ten kilometers of paved road. “There were no gardens, no streets, no (electric) light,” said a taxi driver as his fully air-conditioned car slid over one of the perfectly paved lanes in the capital city of Muscat.
The streets are just one example of the achievement of the Qabus era. Medical care was free of charge and even reached western levels in the cities. Schools are also free of charge. Pensions for the elderly, widows and orphans and a minimum wage were also introduced. Oil has made Oman and its people wealthy, but not as megalomaniacal as other Gulf States.
Stability and prosperity made Qabus the undisputed sole ruler. And this despite the fact that he denied his people freedom rights, for which uprisings broke out in other countries. The media in the Sultanate are controlled, there is only limited political participation – even if the ruler was very sensitive to responding to the needs of different parts of society.
–
Prison sentences for Facebook and Twitter users
Human rights organizations criticize the limited freedom of expression and assembly. Human Rights Watch reported prison terms for Facebook and Twitter users who allegedly offended God or the Sultan. But in Oman it remained comparatively calm even during the wildfire of the Arab uprisings in 2011. The ruler enacted minor reforms. The year of the overturn passed him unscathed.
Qabus also developed the country into a leading mediator in international diplomacy. Many international conflicts were negotiated in and with Oman. The basis for the nuclear deal with Iran was also created in the Sultanate. The prerequisite for this was that Oman had made a name for itself as “Switzerland of the Middle East” and was considered neutral.
«The Sultanate has a good relationship with all countries. This is one of the cornerstones of Oman’s relationship with all countries, »said Foreign Minister Jusuf Bin Alawi. A phrase-like quote. Still an accurate one.
–
Withdrew more and more
Qabus has hardly appeared in public in recent years and mostly sent its ministers. In the magnificent snow-white opera Maskats, which opened in 2011, one chair has remained empty for years: the Sultan’s opera throne covered with red velvet. At times, Kabus had to be treated in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Kabus liked to travel to the Bavarian city, where he owned a house – and always came back until shortly before his death. The man with the accurately trimmed white beard suffered from cancer, according to media reports.
–
Popular travel destination
Internationally, Qabus positioned Oman as an intermediary between Iran and the West. Oman is also considered a state that maintains unofficial contacts with Israel. In April, Oman called on the other Arab countries to end Israel’s existential fears.
–
Every year, countless tourists come to the desert state, including many from Switzerland. Among Lisbon’s top ten destinations, Lisbon, New York, Rome and Oman also appear – in sixth place. Only then do Costa Rica and Vietnam come last, as a travel trend list from «Travelnews» showed. (SDA)
—
Related
