King Salman
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) departs the West Wing of the White House after meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington September 4, 2015. This is the king's first visit to the United States since ascending to the throne in January. Reuters/Gary Cameron

There is unrest in the leadership of current Saudi leader, King Salman, according to one of the Saudi princes, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

The prince shared the information, as well as the letters he wrote, to the Guardian.

Along with the king, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and the deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are also among the leaders mentioned in the complaint.

Various factors led to the disquiet in one of the world’s newest monarchy. The double tragedy in Mecca, where a crane collapsed and killed 100 people, as well as the hajj stampede which resulted to injuries and deaths, are just among the factors that contributed to the call for change in leadership. Aside from the recent tragedies, the value of oil, which dropped by 50 percent, is also among the immediate concerns the country is facing.

Oil is priced as low as US$50 (AU$71) per barrel and the Financial Times reported that the country withdrew as much as US$70 billion (AU$100 billion) in its overseas funds to cut its increasing deficit amidst the decline in the prices and value of oil.

The country’s international deficit is expected to reach US$107 billion (AU$153 billion) this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, despite the increase in deficit, the country’s national budget for the next fiscal year significantly increased.

Funding the military advances in Yemen is also a factor that affects both the Saudi Arabian government and economy. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, nicknamed the “Reckless,” is said to have rushed to military action without a proper plan and is thus hugely responsible for the war in Yemen along with other problems in Saudi Arabia.

The prince’s letter was said to be supported by the members of the royal family and the people. However, only one senior member of the family has formally endorsed the cause. This is because the regime is known for brutally punishing political rivals and opponents.

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