Risk Management Report: Oman
Risk Management
Issue 976
- 10 Sep 2014
| 1 minute read
Oman has been governed since 1970 by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said
Al-Said, the 14th ruler of the Al-Busaidi dynasty, founded in 1750. Oman’s
sultan, 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. Qaboos 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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