Bahrain appointed former Secretary General of the GCC Abdullatif al-Zayani as the Kingdom’s new foreign minister
According to another royal decree on Tuesday, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed will now serve as Adviser to Bahrain’s King
Manama February 12, 2020 (GNP) : Bahrain has formally appointed former Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif al-Zayani as the Kingdom’s foreign minister, according to a royal decree issued on Tuesday.
Al-Zayani replaces Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, who served as foreign minister since 2005. With his official appointment on Tuesday, al-Zayani becomes the first non-royal member of the ruling al-Khalifa family to hold the post of Bahrain’s foreign minister.
According to another royal decree on Tuesday, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed will now serve as Adviser to Bahrain’s King for Diplomatic Affairs.
Prior to Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammad bin Mubarak al-Khalifa held the post of foreign minister from 1971 to 2005.
Bahraini political columnist Abdullah Junaid said the new appointments are continuations of the King’s reform policies. (GNP)