Saudi Arabia: Prince Bandar replaced

Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan has been removed from his post and will be replaced by his deputy, state news agency SPA said on 15 April. “Prince Bandar was relieved of his post at his own request and General Youssef Al-Idrissi was asked to carry out the duties of the head of general intelligence,” SPA said, citing a royal decree. The decree did not say if Prince Bandar would continue in his role as head of the National Security Council. There have been a growing number of reports – mostly sourced to unnamed ‘Saudi officials’ – that Prince Bandar was set to return after a period of unexplained sick leave.