![Saudi King Salman on June 21st named his son Mohammed bin Salman (L) as crown prince, completing a gradual removal of powers from the previous prince Mohammed bin Nayef (R), who has been fired. This file photo taken on December 9th, 2015 shows Mohamed bin Salman talking with then Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef during the 136th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Riyadh. [Fayez Nureldine/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2017/06/21/8443-saudi-prince-mohammed-700_496.webp)
Saudi King Salman on Wednesday (June 21st) named his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince, completing a gradual removal of powers from the previous prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, who has been fired.
According to a royal decree issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, was also named deputy prime minister, and maintains his post as minister of defence.
The young prince already wielded huge power before he was named heir, spearheading a sweeping economic and social reform programme for the ultraconservative kingdom.
His youth is a novelty for a country that is used to aging leaders -- his father is 81 -- and his rapid ascent through royal ranks over the past two years has symbolised the hopes of the kingdom's young population, more than half of which is under 25.
Footage aired on Saudi television channels showed the bearded Mohammed bin Salman kissing the hand of his ousted cousin Mohammed bin Nayef and kneeling in front of the older prince, who patted his shoulder to congratulate him.
"I am going to rest now. May God help you," the former crown prince said, to which his replacement replied: "May God help you. I will never do without your advice."
Mohammed bin Nayef, a veteran law enforcer well-regarded in the west for his efforts to combat al-Qaeda, was also fired from his post as interior minister and deputy prime minister, the decree said.
The new heir to the throne is the main champion of the kingdom's Vision 2030 reform plan which aims to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent economy of Saudi Arabia.
He also chairs the Council of Economic and Development Affairs which co-ordinates economic policy and oversees state oil giant Saudi Aramco.
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His appointment as heir to the throne completes a gradual stripping of power from the ousted crown prince.
An April government and security shakeup prepared the way for Mohammed bin Salman's rise, with a number of his allies appointed to prominent positions and a brother named ambassador to Washington.
Salman had already set a precedent for removal of a crown prince when, in April 2015, he appointed Mohammed bin Nayef and fired Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud, an appointee of the late King Abdullah.
The move left Mohammed bin Nayef as the first of the second generation, or grandsons of the kingdom's founder, Abdul Aziz bin Saud, in line to lead the Islamic kingdom.
With Mohammed bin Salman now poised for the throne, an even younger generation is set for power.
In a letter to the king, Mohammed bin Nayef endorsed his decision, a Saudi official told AFP.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef -- the ousted interior minister's nephew -- was named to replace him.
He takes control of the security forces at a time when the kingdom has been hit by periodic shooting and bombing attacks claimed by the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) and other unrest in the country.
O, God, guide the steps of His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bin Salman! Amen!
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May God preserve and help them!
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May God preserve them against all evils!
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O, God, grant them success and help them walk on the straight path of truth, and preserve the country of the Two Holy Mosques and all Muslim countries and all of your creatures, o, God, the Generous and Kind!
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May God protect the country of the two Holy Mosques and mend the conditions of country and people! God is capable of doing this!
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May God strengthen them and give them victory over their enemies! They are the soldiers of this country [gibberish] standing on the border and ready to sacrifice their own lives, money and children.
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May God protect you and guide you on the right path for the elevation of Islam and the establishment of truth and justice in the country!
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We pray to God Almighty to preserve you and protect Saudi Arabia and Egypt against all evils and bad things and to guide you on the right path!
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I have great hope in this young man.
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May God strengthen and dignify them! Hope they will help each other.
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All things belong to God. We pray to God Almighty to appoint the most suitable ruler, and to protect the country of the two Holy Mosques against traitors, commotion, and those who are after their own interests. Amen.
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We pray to God to grant them success, guide them, fix things among them, help Mohammed bin Salman, and increase the good things of Mohammed bin Nayef, who has served his country. We express our thanks and appreciation to him, and God will reward him.
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God willing, everything will be OK for Muhammad's Nation! We hope that God will make things easier and guide him to the right path.
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A decision that was taken by Salman only after carefully study it; it's not a game. We hope God will make us see good things!
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All Al Saud are good. Hadn't it been for you, the Kingdom wouldn't have reached what it has now. May Allah guide you to what is good. Mohamed from Iraq.
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