Saudi’s King Salman shuffles government again

 

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Monday named a new housing minister and replaced the head of the royal court in his latest government shuffle.

A decree named Minister of State Khalid bin Abdulrahman al-Issa to replace Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Suwailem as head of the royal court.

Suwailem had held the post since late April when he took over from Salman’s  son Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a major shake-up which saw the king’s son named Deputy Crown Prince and second in line to the throne.

Mohammed bin Salman is also defence minister and holds other positions.

A separate royal decree on Monday named Majid bin Abdullah bin Hamad al-Hugail as housing minister.

He replaces an official who temporarily held the portfolio after the previous minister’s dismissal in April.

Another royal decree named Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah as governor of the northern region bordering Iraq to replace the previous governor who died this month.

Prince Mishaal had been serving as an adviser to the king since Salman replaced him as governor of the holy city of Mecca in January as part of the monarch’s first major cabinet shake-up.