Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel

Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel (Arabic: الشيخ إبراهيم بن عبد الله بن عبد العزيز بن عبد الله السويّل‎; 1916 – 22 January 1977) was a Saudi Arabian statesman and diplomat who most notably served as the 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 first non-member of the Saudi royal family to hold the position of foreign minister. He also served as the Saudi Arabian ambassador to both the United States and Iraq, as the minister of agriculture, and later as a member of the Council of Ministers and an advisor to the Royal Court.

His Excellency Sheikh

Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel
إبراهيم بن عبد الله السويل
Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Suwaiyel, 1974
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States
In office
18 September 1964 – 1975
MonarchFaisal
Preceded byAbdallah Al-Khayyaal
Succeeded byAli Alireza
Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia
In office
31 October 1962 – 29 August 1964
MonarchSaud
Preceded byAbdul Rahman Bin Sulaiman Al-Sheikh
Succeeded byHassan Al-Mishari
2nd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia
In office
22 December 1960 – 16 March 1962
MonarchSaud
Preceded byFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Succeeded byFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Iraq
In office
1958–1960
MonarchSaud
Personal details
Born1916
Unaizah, Emirate of Nejd and Hasa
Died21 May 1977(1977-05-21) (aged 60–61)
Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
ParentsAbdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Suwaiyel
Military service
Allegiance Saudi Arabia
Branch/serviceSaudi Arabian Army
RankMajor general
In this Arabic name, the surname is Al-Sowayel.

Early life and education

Al 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 university.

Career

Early career

Al Suwaiyel 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

Al 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 been responsible for the Saudi domains' foreign policy since 1930 (two years before the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Al Suwaiyel became the country's second foreign minister, and the first minister who was not a member of the Saudi royal family.[3][4]

Al 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
Ibrahim Al Suwaiyel with his wife and King Fahd, 1974

On 31 October 1962, Al Suwaiyel took office as the minister of agriculture, serving until 29 August 1964.[1] When Faisal became the king, Al Suwaiyel was appointed ambassador to the United States, serving until Faisal's assassination in 1975.[1] Following the reign of King Khalid Al 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

Al Suwaiyel died of complications from emphysema at dawn on 21 May 1977 in Riyadh.[1]

References
  1. "The death of His Excellency Sheikh Ibrahim Al Suwaiyel, adviser at the Royal Court". Saudi Press Agency. 21 May 1977.
  2. "معالي الأستاذ / ابراهيم السويل | المملكة العربية السعودية - وزارة الخارجية". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Arabic). Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. "Royal Reshuffle: Saudi Shakeup Consolidates King's Power". Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. Rajit Gupta (5 May 2015). "King Salman: The Boldest Ever Saudi Monarch?". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
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