Risk Management Report: Bahrain
Risk Management
Issue 979
- 18 Oct 2014
| 1 minute read
The Al-Khalifa came to power in 1783, taking its authority from
the family’s conquest of the archipelago from the Persian empire. Britain,
interested in maritime trade routes, entered into an alliance with the Al-
Khalifa in 1820 and helped secure its rule; it was not until 1971 that Bahrain
declared independence. A new constitution provided for a fully elected
parliament, formed in 1973, but that was disbanded in 1975 after it fell out
with the ruler. A partially elected body was reinstated in the 2002
constitution, but power lies primarily with the executive, and the
preponderance of Al-Khalifa in key positions means lines between state and
ruling family are very blurred. The current king, Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa,
succeeded his father in 1999. His uncle, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman, has been
prime minister since 1971.
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