Rabat – Prince Moulay Rachid arrived in the Omani capital, Muscat, on Monday, January 13, to represent King Mohammed VI at the funeral of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman.
Qaboos died aged 79 on Friday evening, January 10, after ruling the Middle-Eastern country for nearly five decades. The Royal Family Council selected Qaboos’ cousin, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, as a successor. The new Sultan swore in on the morning following Qaboos’ death.
A member of the Omani Royal family, the Moroccan ambassador to Oman, Tarek Lahssisne, and other officials from the Moroccan embassy in Muscat greeted Prince Moulay Rachid upon his arrival at Muscat International Airport.
Moulay Rachid presented a message of condolences from King Mohammed VI to the new Omani Sultan during the funeral ceremony that took place at Al Alam Palace in the Omani capital.
In his message, King Mohammed VI expressed his condolences and sincere compassion to Sultan Haitham for his, and the Omani people’s, loss. He also conveyed his wishes that God grant the Omani royal family and people with patience and reassurance.
With the death of Sultan Qaboos, the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab and Islamic nation have lost an important and wise leader who achieved a global revolution for his country and several economic and political accomplishments, the message added.
Sultan Qaboos gave Oman a privileged position both regionally and internationally. The late Sultan, the letter concluded, helped to consolidate Arab and Islamic solidarity, as well as reinforce dialogue, peace, and moderation.
Moulay Rachid also passed on a message of congratulations from King Mohammed VI to Sultan Haitham for his new role as leader of the Omani people.
King Mohammed shared sincere wishes for the new Sultan to lead his people to more progress and prosperity. He also commended the strong links of brotherhood between the two royal families and the distinguished relations between Morocco and Oman, based on cooperation and solidarity.
Morocco is determined to work with the new Sultan of Oman to expand and strengthen cooperation between the two countries, for the benefit of both the Moroccan and Omani people, and the Arab and Islamic world as a whole.
After presenting the messages to Sultan Haitham, Prince Moulay Rachid left the Omani capital.
Several international officials attended the funeral ceremony at Al Alam Palace, while thousands of citizens participated in the burying of Sultan Qaboos at the Royal Family’s cemetery.
Sultan Haitham and other members of the royal family led the mourners.
Ministers, advisers, military commanders, senior state officials, and civilians all attended the funeral, reports the Oman News Agency.
