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Unsurprisingly, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who is already considered the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates, succeeded his half-brother, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had died the day before. “Mohammed bin Zayed” was elected president of the federation on Saturday. For his part, Emmanuel Macron will visit the wealthy Gulf kingdom on Sunday to honor the late president.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, the de facto ruler From the United Arab Emirateswas elected president of the wealthy Gulf kingdom on Saturday, succeeding his half-brother, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who died the day before.
The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) said that Mohammed bin Zayed, nicknamed “Mohammed bin Zayed”, was “unanimously elected” by members of the Supreme Council of the Emirates Federation, which includes seven emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president and founding father of the Emirates Federation, “Mohammed bin Zayed”, the Crown Prince of the capital and emirate of Abu Dhabi, had already taken charge since he suffered a stroke in January 2014, and sacked Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Mohammed bin Zayed, 61, thanked the “Sheikhs of the Federal Supreme Council” for their confidence.
The election of Mohammed bin Zayed formalizes his position as leader of the oil-rich nation of nearly 10 million people, as the country began a 40-day period of mourning for the death of Sheikh Khalifa at the age of 73.
Mohammed bin Zayed inherits a petro-state that was already its de facto leader during a decade of diplomatic and military ascendancy that has placed this state at the center of the geopolitics of the Middle East.
stronger policy
Under the leadership of “Mohammed bin Zayed”, the UAE has pursued a more assertive policy on the international stage.
The United Arab Emirates, an ally of Saudi Arabia and the United States, was the first Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel in 2020.
It is widely believed that “Mohammed bin Zayed” is the person who sent Emirati forces to Yemen in 2015, as part of a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels.
Being particularly hostile to the popular uprisings of the Arab Spring in 2011, “Mohammed bin Zayed” can count on the wealth of Abu Dhabi, which holds 90% of the UAE’s oil reserves, to assert its power in the region and show its support for it. Some regimes, such as the Egyptian regime of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Human rights NGOs are quick to denounce abuses, in particular the fate of Ahmed Mansoor, a pro-democracy activist imprisoned since 2017.
They also regularly criticize the poor working conditions of many migrant workers in the UAE and other Gulf countries.
Emmanuel Macron in the UAE
Shortly after the president’s death was announced on Friday, he was buried at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.
A number of world leaders offered their condolences to the UAE after his death.
France hailed a “leader respected by all”.
The Elysee announced that Emmanuel Macron will travel to Abu Dhabi on Sunday to “express his support” for Mohammed bin Zayed. He spoke with “Mohammed bin Zayed” on Friday.
US President Joe Biden praised Sheikh Khalifa as “a true partner and friend of the United States.”
Other senior allies of the UAE, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressed their “deep sadness”.
Israel, Russia and Iran also offered their condolences.
with AFP
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