A Soft Coup Under the Guise of Appointments in Qatar.

The Middle East is witnessing a new era of change. As I have mentioned before, no one can stand in the way of these transformations. One of the most prominent signs of this change was the sweeping victory of President Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election, where he received 312 electoral votes, well above the 270 needed. Additionally, the Republican Party gained control of both chambers of Congress. This victory has led many to believe that a time of accountability is approaching.

In this context, recent appointments made by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, are particularly noteworthy. The recent cabinet reshuffle saw the addition of a significant sovereign position, the Ministry of Defense, to the ruling family. Sheikh Tamim also appointed a new head for the Amiri Diwan with a security background and a new head of State Security. With these appointments, Sheikh Tamim has surrounded himself with a close circle of trusted security leaders, in what can be described as a “soft coup” consolidating his grip on power in Doha.

According to an informed source, these appointments come at a time when Doha is preparing for a period of regional unrest, facing challenging tests. The source added that Sheikh Tamim aimed to concentrate sensitive sovereign positions within a select few from the ruling family, thereby facilitating crisis management and avoiding any potential coups.

The reshuffle included moving Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi from his position as head of State Security to the role of head of the Amiri Diwan, and appointing Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al Buainain Al Kaabi as the new head of State Security. With this move, the security file is now directly under Sheikh Tamim’s control.

According to other sources, one of the primary roles of this new security circle is to protect Qatar and its Emir from any retaliatory political attacks, particularly from Israel, which Trump may not hesitate to support given Qatar’s backing of Hamas. This role also includes shielding Qatar from any sudden escalations it might face.

The source indicated that the head of the Amiri Diwan and the head of State Security are expected to play crucial roles in the coming phase, amid fears of an expanding regional conflict. Given these challenges, the cabinet appointments serve to strengthen internal defenses, consolidating decision-making within a close circle loyal to Sheikh Tamim.

The source further noted that Qatar has already started implementing internal security measures, including dismantling the presence of Hamas within its borders, now that its presence is no longer justified. Observers believe that this dismantling won’t stop at closing Hamas’s political office but will also involve dismantling various Brotherhood-affiliated networks that have been established in Qatar under multiple pretexts.

The Emir of Qatar recently issued an order to amend the cabinet, involving changes in the portfolios of Defense, the Amiri Diwan, and State Security. Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, replacing Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. Additionally, the former head of intelligence was appointed as head of the Amiri Diwan, reflecting Sheikh Tamim’s trust in him to coordinate political, military, and security affairs.

The American website Axios cited sources stating that Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi was awarded the George Tenet Medal in recognition of his role in supporting the CIA in safeguarding the interests and security of both the United States and Qatar. Furthermore, Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi was appointed CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority, and Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani was appointed as the new Minister of Commerce and Industry.

With these appointments, Sheikh Tamim has effectively conducted a soft coup, securing himself against any potential attempts to unseat him—a move that indicates Qatar is beginning to acknowledge the limits of its regional role and is adapting accordingly.

“May God have mercy on the one who knew his limits and stayed within them.”

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