Oman lost their longest serving monarch . Previously, Sultan Qaboos left the country for medical treatment. It has not been confirmed, but it was suggested he was suffering from cancer. His death marks the end of some of the region's longest serving rulers. Since 1970, he led Oman through a region that was constantly in conflict. The war of attrition wit Israel, the Lebanese Civil War, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the 2003 Iraq War were events that he witness during his political career. The question remains who will be his successor ? The sultan never married or had children. This may result in a crisis of succession. Oman unlike its neighbors was able to avoid the turbulence of the Arab Spring. The reason for Sultan's Qaboos' popularity was that he used oil revenue to develop the country. Modernization and a neutral foreign policy characterized his reign. There were problems in regards to press freedom and the silencing of political dissent. Oman acted as a mediator between both Iran and the United States in 2013 . This was helpful in launching the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015. Oman is critical in reducing tensions between Iran and the US. With current conflagrations, the next sultan will have to be skilled in diplomacy. If the successor is not able to handle escalating tensions between the US, Iran, and Saudi Arabia then Oman's security may be at risk. The death of Sultan Siad Qaboos marks the end of an era in Omani history.
No comments:
Post a Comment