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Risk Management Report: Oman


Risk Management Reports
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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