UN General Assembly pays tribute to Oman's Sultan Qaboos

The global body's secretary general praised him as a leader who prioritised co-operation

General Assembly, 74th session: 57th plenary meeting Tribute to the memory of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman SG1 Secretary-General Ant—nio Guterres PGA Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly DGACM - Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM)

General Assembly, 74th session: 57th plenary meeting Tribute to the memory of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman SG1 Secretary-General Ant—nio Guterres

General Assembly, 74th session: 57th plenary meeting Tribute to the memory of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman OMAN

General Assembly, 74th session: 57th plenary meeting Tribute to the memory of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman Minute of Silence

General Assembly, 74th session: 57th plenary meeting tribute to the memory of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman. UN

The United Nations paid tribute to Oman leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Friday with a ceremony at the General Assembly in New York after he passed away earlier this month.

“Today, we remember and pay homage to the many roads he built — the road of dialogue, the road of understanding, the road of peace,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, noting that Sultan Qaboos led Oman to join the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Co-operation Council.

Sultan Qaboos was well regarded for spreading messages of peace, understanding and coexistence far beyond his country’s borders, Mr Guterres said, according to a UN press release, adding that Oman has consistently played a critical role in ensuring communication among disputing parties.

Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for nearly half a century, passed away at age 79 on January 10. His successor is Sultan Haitham.

Kokou Kpayedo of Togo, speaking for the African States, hailed Sultan Qaboos as an emblematic figure on the global stage, and a visionary deeply committed to advancing his country and the well-being of his people.

Hassan Abu Obaida of Sudan, speaking on behalf of the Arab States, reflected on the many achievements of the Sultan, including his role in Oman’s renaissance, and hailed his role in modernising the country.

The country has been in mourning since the news.  After concerns about appointing a successor for Sultan Qaboos, who was not married and had no natural heirs, the country’s ruling family quickly chose Sultan Haitham.

Sultan bin Mohammed, the Minister of the Royal Office, opened a letter written by Sultan Qaboos naming his preferred successor in front of senior government and military officials and heads of the Omani families in footage broadcast on television.