Risk Management Report: Oman
Risk Management
Issue 982
- 27 Nov 2014
| 1 minute read
POLITICS: Oman has been governed since 1970 by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said
Al-Said, the 14th ruler of the Al-Busaidi dynasty, founded in 1750. Sultan
Qaboos, who deposed his father in a bloodless coup, relies on a variety of
allies typically drawn from the merchant elite to rule, rather than his relatively
small family. He was briefly married but has no children or heir apparent; his
successor is expected to emerge from a small pool of family members. Power
remains strongly centralised, but there has been some modernisation. The first
elections, for the Majlis Al-Shura (consultative council), were held in 1991;
elections for municipal councils took place in late 2012. There has been
mounting public pressure for reform, and the government has shown little
tolerance of dissent: since 2012, dozens of people have stood trial for taking
part in anti-government protests or insulting the sultan. Oman is known for
its pragmatism in foreign policy, and has often acted as an intermediary
between Tehran and Washington.
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