DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The powerful 37-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia will not attend an upcoming summit in Algeria after his doctors advised him not to travel, the Algerian presidency said early Sunday.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately acknowledge Algeria’s comments about the condition of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who quickly rose to power under his 86-year-old father, King Salman. Much of the focus on Al Saud’s royal family in recent years has been on King Salman’s health, with analysts suggesting Prince Mohammed could rule the OPEC-leading nation for decades after he ascended to the throne.
The kingdom’s government did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press about the prince, whose health had not previously prevented him from traveling.
Statements in Arabic and French on the Algeria Press Service referred to a statement from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s office about a telephone conversation between him and Prince Mohammed.
In the appeal, Prince Mohammed apologized for not being able to participate in the Arab summit to be held in Algiers on November 1, in accordance with the recommendations of doctors advising him not to travel,” the statement read.
“For his part, Mr. President said he understood the situation and regretted the hindrance of the Crown Prince, His Highness Emir Mohammed Bin Salman, who expressed his wishes for his health and well-being.”
A statement on the state-run Saudi news agency acknowledged a phone call between Tebboune and the prince, but offered no word on the doctors’ advice. It just said the call focused on “the aspects of bilateral relations between the two fraternal countries” and possible joint cooperation.
The Arab League summit in Algeria marks the regional body’s first meeting since the coronavirus pandemic spread around the world.
Founded in 1945, the Arab League represents 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, though Syria has been suspended amid a long-running war. While united in calling for the Palestinians to have an independent state, the body has otherwise been largely unruly and unable to enforce its mandates.
Prince Mohammed came to power as deputy crown prince in 2015, and soon became crown prince some two years later after King Salman deposed Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a once-powerful figure as head of Saudi’s counter-terrorism efforts. and a close American ally.
However, his takeover has seen the kingdom undergo rapid changes such as allowing women to drive and opening movie theaters while loosening the grip of ultra-conservatives in the kingdom. However, the prince was also involved in an anti-corruption campaign that turned a luxury hotel in Riyadh into a prison for power brokers in the kingdom who could have challenged his rule. He also led an internationally criticized Saudi military campaign in a devastating war in Yemen that rages even today in the poorest country in the Arab world.
US intelligence has linked Prince Mohammed to the 2018 murder and mutilation of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of his rule. The kingdom has denied that the prince was involved, although the prosecution of the government team behind Khashoggi’s murder has been kept behind closed doors.
Recently, the prince has come under fierce US criticism over Saudi Arabia, which has prompted OPEC and allied countries to agree to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day.
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