Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, already the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates, was elected president of the wealthy Gulf monarchy on Saturday, succeeding his half-brother, Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who died the day before.
Mohammed bin Zayed, known as "MBZ", "was elected unanimously" by the members of the Supreme Council of the Emirates Federation, which includes seven emirates including those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the news agency said. official WAM.
Third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, first president and founding father of the Emirates federation, "MBZ", crown prince of the capital and emirate of Abu Dhabi, had already been in charge since a stroke in January 2014 dismissed Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Mohammed bin Zayed, 61, "thanked" the sheikhs of the Federal Supreme Council "for their trust".
The election of 'MBZ' formalizes his position as leader of the oil-rich country of some 10 million people, as the country began a 40-day period of mourning for the death at the age of 73 of Sheikh Khalifa .
Mohammed ben Zayed inherits an oil country of which he was already the de facto leader during a decade of diplomatic and military ascent which placed this State at the heart of the geopolitics of the Middle East.
Stronger policy
Under the leadership of "MBZ", the Emirates have pursued a more assertive policy on the international scene.
Allied country of Saudi Arabia and the United States, the Emirates of "MBZ" were the first Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel in 2020.
"MBZ" is also widely believed to be the one who sent Emirati troops to Yemen in 2015, as part of a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels.
Considered particularly hostile to the popular uprisings of the Arab Spring in 2011, "MBZ" can count on the wealth of Abu Dhabi, which holds 90% of the oil reserves of the Emirates, to assert its power in the region and show its support for certain regimes. , like that of the Egyptian Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.
Human rights NGOs are quick to deplore the violations, in particular the fate of Ahmed Mansour, a pro-democracy activist imprisoned since 2017.
They also regularly criticize the poor working conditions of the many migrant workers in the Emirates and other Gulf countries.
Emmanuel Macron in the Emirates
Shortly after the announcement of the president's death on Friday, he was buried in al-Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.
Several world leaders offered their condolences to the Emirates after his death.
France paid tribute to "a leader respected by all".
The Élysée announced that Emmanuel Macron would travel to Abu Dhabi on Sunday to "express his support" for Mohammed bin Zayed.
He spoke with "MBZ" on Friday.
US President Joe Biden hailed Sheikh Khalifa as a "true partner and friend of the United States".
Other great allies of the Emirates, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their "great sadness".
Israel, Russia and Iran also offered their condolences.
With AFP
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