Oman’s Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, has appointed a new top diplomat to replace the long-serving Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in a government reshuffle.
While disclosing this on Tuesday August 18, 2020, Sultan Haitham said the decision was part of his determination to maintain Oman’s policy of neutrality and non-interference.
Badr Albusaidi, 60, was named foreign minister, a title held by the late Sultan Qaboos himself but with bin Alawi responsible for foreign affairs for the past two decades.
Albusaidi has been in the diplomatic service since the 1980s and held a number of posts, including foreign ministry secretary-general.
According to the state media, Sultan bin Salem bin Saeed al-Habsi was appointed finance minister, a post also held by the sultan, and new faces were named to other key ministries.
Haitham bin Tariq was sworn in after modern Oman’s founding father, Sultan Qaboos, died at the age of 79.
Yusuf bin Alawi played a key role in maintaining Oman’s neutrality and as a regional mediator.
On Monday, he spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi on the phone to stress Oman’s support of “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace”, Oman’s foreign ministry said on Twitter.
It was the first public contact between Oman and Israel since US President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that the Jewish states and the UAE, Oman’s neighbor, have agreed to normalize ties.
Source: AFP
