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Vol 60 No 16

Published 9th August 2019


The Crown Prince’s power play

From Benghazi to Assab and Khartoum, the UAE’s strongman has emerged as a key player in regional conflicts

The world has woken up to the dynamic and ruthless Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahayan's ('MBZ') status as a quietly dominant figure on the world stage, and in Africa in particular. While his older half-brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahayan has official seniority, the federal President and Abu Dhabi ruler has been infirm for years. 'The Most Powerful Arab Ruler Isn't MBS [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud]. It's MBZ,' said a recent New York Times headline. This has long been evident in several African conflict zones.

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