Saudi reshuffle sees army promotions and female Deputy Minister appointed

Tamadur bint Youssef Al Ramah has been made Deputy Labour Minister in the broad shake-up of mid-ranking positions

There were broad changes across the military and political arms of the Saudi Arabian government in the reshuffle. Saudi Press Agency/Handout/EPA

Saudi Arabia implemented a broad reshuffle of political and military positions on Monday evening, with around 40 posts affected in a move that saw the first female Deputy Minister appointed.

The shake-up was described as “pumping young blood” into local government while also promoting a new guard into the upper echelons of the armed forces.

First Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al Ruwayli was promoted to Chief of General Staff from previously holding the deputy role, while new chiefs were appointed to the country’s air defence and land forces, according to royal decrees which were reported on by the Saudi Press Agency.

New deputy ministers were appointed to economic and security-related ministries, as well as a slew of new city mayors. Tamadur bint Youssef Al Ramah was made Deputy Labour Minister. Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Qattan, previously the ambassador to Egypt, has been made Minister of State for African affairs.

The decrees also included the appointment of three deputy governors from among the descendants of Princes Ahmed, Talal and Muqrin – brothers of King Salman.

One of them, the new deputy governor of Asir province, Prince Turki bin Talal, is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the government's anti-corruption campaign and only released last month.

Saudi analyst Ahmed Al Towayan, speaking on state television, said the new appointments were "pumping young blood" into local government while elevating young commanders into top military posts.