The Sultan of Oman Qaboos, who has ruled the country for nearly fifty years, has died at the age of 79, the royal cabinet announced on Saturday (January 11th) to the Omani news agency.
Qabous, who had taken power from his father in a coup in July 1970, had been suffering for some time from a disease which, according to diplomats, could be colon cancer.
"It is with sadness (…) that the Sultanate of Oman mourns our Sultan Qaboos Ben Said who was reminded of God on Friday evening", Oman News Agency said, citing a royal cabinet statement.
On December 31, state media announced that the Sultan was in a " stable state " after several weeks of rumors about his health.
No children or brothers
His multiple hospitalizations in Germany had already raised concerns about his succession and the stability of this Gulf country. The neutral sultanate regularly plays good offices for its Western allies, particularly in their strained relations with neighboring Iran.
The Sultan, who was not married and had no children or brothers, was required by the Constitution to write a letter designating his successor in the royal dynasty, which would be opened if his family failed not to agree on a name within three days of his death.
