ASSESSMENTS

Will Khashoggi's Killing Force Mohammed bin Salman to Cede Some Control?

Nov 5, 2018 | 11:30 GMT

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Oct. 23.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 23. The killing of Jamal Khashoggi could force the crown prince to share some of his power with his royal relatives.

(FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is unlikely to be replaced as a result of the fallout over the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate.
Still, the backlash against the crown prince could result in pressure to reduce his consolidation of power, as he has dispensed with the country's custom of reaching decisions by consensus in favor of concentrating power in his hands.
As the Saudi kingdom continues to scramble to contain the crisis, other royals could attempt to maneuver behind the scenes.
Questions remain about whether the crown prince's grip on power will slowly erode after the crisis ends as other royals try to cultivate their influence and power.

A death in Turkey has set the Saudi royal family scrambling. The apparent murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the resulting international reaction have embroiled Saudi Arabia, forcing the House of Saud to unite to address the backlash. King Salman has sent the powerful governor of Mecca, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, to Turkey to try to diffuse tension over the killing, while also summoning the Saudi ambassador to the United States back to Riyadh. The incident is bound to affect the inner workings of the royal family, particularly as the king's powerful young son and crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, struggles to escape international blame while Riyadh disavows -- publicly, at least -- that he had any involvement. Beneath the surface, competition and debate in the House of Saud is likely to be heated, because the crown prince has inevitably made enemies in the family while consolidating his power. As the...

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