Why three senior saudi princes have been silenced

In August 2020, three senior Saudi princes, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, were placed under house arrest or silenced in various ways. Here are some possible reasons behind this:

  1. Power struggle: Prince Ahmed, the younger brother of King Salman, was seen as a potential threat to the king's power. He had previously spoken out against the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen and had been critical of the government's handling of the economy. By silencing him, King Salman may have been trying to prevent any potential challenges to his authority.
  2. Rivalry with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the former crown prince and interior minister, was a rival of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). MBS had ousted Nayef from the line of succession in 2017 and took over as crown prince. Nayef's silence may have been a way for MBS to eliminate any potential competition and consolidate his power.
  3. Fear of dissent: Prince Mansour bin Muqrin, the governor of Asir Province, was a vocal critic of the government's human rights record and had spoken out against the detention of activists and dissidents. His silence may have been a way for the government to prevent any further dissent or criticism from within the royal family.
  4. Consolidation of power: King Salman and MBS have been working to consolidate their power and eliminate any potential threats to their rule. By silencing these senior princes, they may have been trying to create a more stable and predictable environment for themselves.
  5. Fear of international pressure: The Saudi government may have been concerned about international pressure and criticism following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. By silencing these princes, they may have been trying to avoid any further embarrassment or scrutiny.

It's worth noting that the Saudi government has not officially commented on the reasons behind the silencing of these princes. However, these are some possible reasons that have been speculated by analysts and observers.