Oman has named a successor of the late Sultan Qaboos on Saturday, some hours after it announced the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who died on Friday after battling a long illness.
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Qaboos lived for 79-years and ruled Oman for five decades after he plotting a bloodless coup against his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur in 1970 even as an only son. The Omani government has declared three days of national mourning for Qaboos who was the longest-serving Arab leader.
Haitham bin Tariq al-Said has been announced as the new ruler of the Gulf country, according to state-run Oman News Agency.
Following the fact that Qaboos did not have any child of his own before his death. The Omani Constitution requires that the royal family will choose a new sultan within three days.
Meanwhile, The US Embassy in the capital of Muscat said it’s “deeply saddened” by the death of Qaboos.
“We have lost one of the world’s great leaders, a visionary responsible for Oman’s prosperity and progress for the last half-century. His steadfast leadership embodied his sincerity, his generosity, his tolerance, and his deep love for his country. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will be missed not only by the people of Oman but also by his friends and admirers the world over, including in the United States,” the embassy twitted.
He was one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies before his death. Qaboos was greatly admired as a modernizing leader who played a major role in diplomacy and mediation in the Middle East and maintained a strong relationship with Western nations.
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Former US President George W. Bush described him thus: “His Majesty had a vision for a modern, prosperous, and peaceful Oman, and he willed that vision into reality. Laura and I are fortunate to have visited him in Muscat last fall. We enjoyed his grand hospitality, and we saw how his able leadership improved education, healthcare, and the arts throughout the beautiful country of Oman,” Bush said.
British PM Boris Johnson said: “He was an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman into a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people.”
