ROYAL EXTENSIONS OF GOVERNORSHIPS - PRESERVING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001112

SIPDIS

PASS TO NEA/ARP JHARRIS AND JBRANDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV SA SOCI
SUBJECT: ROYAL EXTENSIONS OF GOVERNORSHIPS - PRESERVING THE
PEACE

REF: A. RIYAH 393

B. 08 RIYADH 1757

C. 09 RIYADH 1748

RIYADH 00001112 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CDA Ambassador Richard W. Erdman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

SUMMARY:
--------------


1. (C) On August 23, King Abdullah issued royal decrees
extending the terms of HRH Mishal bin Majed bin Abdelaziz as
Governor of Jeddah City, and of Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen
Al-Abdelkadir as Deputy Minister of Civil Services. These
appointments are in keeping with the King's general tendency
to extend leaders in key positions and reserve governmental
shake-ups for exceptional situations. By preserving family
harmony and stability, the King aims to create the political
space for implementation of his reform agenda. End summary.


ROYAL DECREES EXTEND TERMS
--------------


2. (U) On August 23, Saudi King Abdullah issued two royal
decrees, the first extending the term of service of Prince
Mishal bin Majed as Governor of Jeddah, a Minister-level
position, by four years; the second extending the tenure of
Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Abdelkadir as Deputy Minister
of Civil Services, an "Excellency"-level position, also by
four years. The extensions are effective immediately.


BIOGRAPHIC DETAILS
--------------



3. (U) Prince Mishal bin Majed was born in Jeddah in 1957.
He is a graduate of King Saud University, and the eldest son
of Prince Majed bin Abdulaziz. He is a member of the
Allegiance Council (Reftel B),head of the Jeddah Governorate
Council and President of the Executive Council for Tourism in
Jeddah. He has served as Governor of Jeddah since 2007. He
speaks fluent English.


4. (U) Deputy Minister of Civil Services Abdulrahman bin
Abdulmohsen Al-Abdelkadir has been with the Civil Service
since 1976. He joined the Ministry after working for a
petroleum company from 1968 to 1975. He is a U.S.-educated
Sunni hailing from Al-Mubarrat in the Eastern Province.


ADHERENCE TO TRADITIONS WINS SUPPORT
--------------


5. (SBU) Comments in several Arabic language dailies praising
Prince Mishal's leadership and business skills have appeared
in recent weeks, paving the way for public acceptance of his
extension. Daily Okaz praised the Prince's efforts to create
an "integrated form of government" in the governorate, as
well as his success in working with the private sector to
promote tourism and investment, while keeping true to Saudi
traditions and heritage and staying away from "vulgarity."
The August 24 article announcing the royal decrees also
praised Prince Mishal for being "family-minded," and creating
the appropriate atmosphere for families to vacation in
Jeddah, rather than outside of the kingdom.


GOVERNORS AND MAYORS ON ABDULLAH'S SIDE
--------------


6. (U) Saudi Arabia's sub-national government consists of 13
governorates, each headed by a royally-appointed Governor: Al
Baha, Al Hudud Al-Shamaliya, Al-Jawf, Al-Madinah, Al-Qassaim,
Al-Riyadh, Al-Sharqiyah (Eastern Province),Asir, Ha'il,
Jizan, Makkah, Najran and Tabouk. In addition, four other
Governor positions and one Mayoral position exist, coverning
the regions of Al-Kharj, Jeddah, Al-Ihsaa, al-Dar'iya and
Riyadh (Mayor). All Governors and the Mayor report to the
Minister of the Interior and Second Deputy Prime Minister,
75-year old HRH Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.


7. (U) The majority of the incumbents in these positions have
seen their terms extended recently. In February, King
Abdullah issued royal decrees extending the terms of six of
the 13 provincial governors: HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz
al-Saud in Riyadh province; HRH Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin

RIYADH 00001112 002.2 OF 002


Abdulaziz al-Saud in the Al-Shariyah; HRH Prince Fahd bin
Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Tabouk province; HRH Prince
Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz in Qassaim; HRH Mohammed bin
Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in Al-Baha; and HH Abdallah bin
Abdulaziz bin Mousaed bin Jiluwi in Al-Shamaliya. A seventh
incumbent, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nasir bin Abdulaziz was
extended as Governor of Jizan in January of this year.


8. (C) Relatively new governors named by King Abdullah
include HRH Prince Mishal bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
(formerly in the Foreign Ministry),appointed Governor of
Najran in March 2009; HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Majid as
Governor of Al Madinah; appointed in 2008; and HRH Faisal Ibn
Khalid as Governor of Asir and HRH Prince Khaled Al-Faisal in
Makkah, both appointed in 2007. Of these, only Prince Mishal
bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz represents a new generation of
leadership, and there are indications his appointment was, in
part, a response to his predecessor's poor performance
(Reftel C). HRH Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdulaziz, Governor
of Al-Jawf, and HRH Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen as Governor
of Ha'il, were appointed in 2001 and 1999, respectively.


COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) The extensions of these government mandates is no
surprise, and their essentially pro-forma renewal reflects
King Abdullah's desire to solidify his political power base
so that he can focus on pushing through societal reforms
(Reftel A). The incumbents, most of whom were born in the
1940s and 50s, belong to long-established lines of authority.
As such, they assist in exerting social control over the
large portion of the population that is under 25 years old.
Okaz's comments praising HRH Prince Mishal for preserving
traditional values and culture are notable given that he is
Governor of Jeddah, the Kingdom's most liberal city, and send
a message that King Abdullah still places a premium on
continuity, stability, and control, even as he pursues
incremental reforms. End comment.


ERDMAN