Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel
| His Excellency Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel | |
|---|---|
| إبراهيم بن عبد الله السويل | |
| Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States | |
|
In office 1964–1975 | |
| Monarch | Faisal |
| Succeeded by | Ali Alireza |
| Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia | |
|
In office 31 October 1962 – 29 August 1964 | |
| Monarch | Saud |
| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Bin Sulaiman Al-Sheikh |
| Succeeded by | Hassan Al-Mishari |
| 2nd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia | |
|
In office 22 December 1960 – 16 March 1962 | |
| Monarch | Saud |
| Preceded by | Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Succeeded by | Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iraq | |
|
In office 1958–1960 | |
| Monarch | Saud |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1916 Unaizah, Najd Sanjak, Ottoman Empire |
| Died |
21 May 1977 (aged 60–61) Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia |
| Parents | Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Suwaiyel |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Saudi Arabia |
| Service/branch | Saudi Arabian Army |
| Rank | Major general |
Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel (Arabic: الأستاذ إبراهيم بن عبد الله بن عبد العزيز بن عبد الله السويّل; 1916 – 22 January 1977) was a Saudi Arabian major general, politician and diplomat who most notably served as the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1960 to 1962. Appointed on 22 December 1960 by King Saud, he succeeded the future king, Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and was succeeded by him again in on 16 March 1961. He was noted for being the non-member of the Saudi royal family to hold the position of foreign minister. He also served as the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the both the United States and Iraq, as the Saudi Minister of Agriculture, and later as a member of the Council of Ministers and an advisor to the Royal Court.
Early life and education
Suwaiyel was born in Unaizah, Al-Qassim Province. His father was Sheik Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Suwaiyel, an imam at a Unaizah mosque. He graduated from Cairo University, and he was the first Najdi person to attend the university.
Career
Early career
Suwaiyal began his career teaching at a mission school in Mecca, before joining the diplomatic corps of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1] He later served as a political advisor to King Saud, and a diplomat at the Saudi Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. From 1958 to 1960, before being appointed foreign minister, he was the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iraq.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Suwaiyel was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by a royal decree of King Saud, and took office on 22 December 1960.[1][2] His predecessor was Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (later King Faisal), and a close friend. With Faisal having held the office since its creation in 1930, Suwaiyel became the country's second foreign minister, and the first minister not a member of the Saudi royal family.[3][4]
Suwaiyel held the office of foreign minister briefly, for less than two years, before returning it back to Faisal, whom he had asked to succeed him.[2] He left office on 16 March 1962.
Later career
On 31 October 1962, Suwaiyel took office as the Saudi Minister of Agriculture, serving until 29 August 1964.[1] When Faisal became King of Saudi Arabia, Suwaiyel was appointed Saudi Ambassador to the United States, serving until Faisal's assassination in 1975.[1] Faisal's half-brother, Khalid, became king, and Suwaiyel left his ambassadorship and returned to the capital of Riyadh to help aide the new monarch. From 1975 until his death in 1977, he served as an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and as a member of the Council of Ministers.[1]
Death
Suwaiyel died of a sudden heart attack at dawn on 21 May 1977 in Riyadh.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The death of His Excellency Sheikh Ibrahim Suwail, adviser at the Royal Court". Saudi Press Agency. 21 May 1977.
- 1 2 "معالي الأستاذ / ابراهيم السويل | المملكة العربية السعودية - وزارة الخارجية". www.mofa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2017-04-27.
- ↑ "Royal Reshuffle: Saudi Shakeup Consolidates King's Power - Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington". Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
- ↑ Gupta, Rajit (5 May 2015). "King Salman: The Boldest Ever Saudi Monarch?". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 26 April 2017.