UAE president gets a fourth term and his brother Mohammed tightens his grip on power
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed has stepped up his grip on the government by announcing the extension of his eldest brother, Khalifa, to a fourth term, although the latter is practically ill for many years and appears only in very rare cases.
The UAE Supreme Council renewed confidence in Khalifa as president of a fourth five-year term in accordance with the UAE’s constitution, the official agency said.
The official statement did not include any details or information on whether the Federal Council, which is supposed to include the rulers of the seven emirates, met or voted on the resolution or even the date of its adoption before its announcement.
The Council even went so far as to express its “deep confidence in the wise leadership” of Khalifa, who has been in office since November 3, 2004, after the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed.
But the 71-year-old Khalifa is virtually cut off from the UAE and has been living mostly in France and has been absent from any official public activities in the country since he suffered a health disorder after a stroke on January 24, 2014, with the exception of appearing only on limited occasions.
Mohammed bin Zayed uses his sick brother as a front for advertising and official advertisements only on occasions while he is the de facto ruler of the UAE and consolidates his grip on power for years by increasing the influence of those close to him.
First and foremost were his sons, Khalid and Dhiab. The former was appointed head of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office and was previously head of the State Security and Deputy National Security Adviser.
Mohammed bin Zayed brings together several positions and controls the political and military spheres.
The net worth of the Al Nahyan family in the UAE was estimated at $ 150 billion.
Mohammed bin Zayed also controls the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the world’s second-largest wealth fund, which has assets valued at $773 billion and controls 6% of the world’s oil.
The UAE’s position in the International Democracy Index reveals its reality as an authoritarian state, ranking 147 out of 167 countries in the list of authoritarian countries.
This comes because of the practices of the UAE repression and arbitrariness and violation of human rights and international conventions.
Under the criterion of “electoral process and pluralism”, the state received a score of 10, political participation at 2.2 and freedoms at 2.65 out of 10.
The UAE deprives its citizens of participation in political, administrative and service decision-making, prohibits any public criticism and punish dissidents with imprisonment and enforced disappearance.
It also arrests dozens of members of the “Call for Reform” association for demanding democracy, as well as dozens of human rights activists and bloggers.
The UAE ranks 128th out of 180 in RSF’s international rankings, reflecting the poor reality of press freedom.
Since Mohammed bin Zayed came to power, the man has the confidence of the United States of America and has close relations with Russia and Israel, calling him a close ally.
