Oman's "Arab Spring" - reforms instead of revolution

The Arab protest movement also reached Oman in 2011. Today, the country is in a better position than before the unrest. Sultan Qaboos took the wind out of the sails of the protests with reforms.

In November 2010, the Sultanate of Oman celebrated its 40th anniversary. Sultan Qaboos established the »Majlis Al-Shura«, the Consultative Council, as an advisory body back in 1991. Any Omani can stand as a candidate here, all Omanis (men and women) are encouraged to vote - but the turnout has been limited. For large sections of the population, it was unfamiliar to take responsibility for their own lives - after all, Sultan Qaboos was looking after their welfare. But on this bank holidays, many Omanis apparently began to think hard for the first time about what would happen to them without their benevolent monarch, who was also celebrating his seventieth birthday. They cherished the hope that Sultan Qaboos would issue reformed political guidelines after the 40th anniversary celebrations - a hope that did not materialise due to the massive power of the clan.

The simultaneous events of the »Arab Spring« in Tunisia and Ägypte; and the changes they brought about encouraged Oman's young generation to protest publicly for the first time. The protesters also received support from the Mufti of Oman, who approved of the youth protests. According to the prevailing ibadhitic faith within Islam in Oman, the population is allowed to rebel against unjust conditions in the country. The protest of Omani youth was mainly directed against corruption and aimed at job creation, as well as co-determination of issues and policies that affect the future of Oman. However, the youth did not question the unrestricted rule of Sultan Qaboos. So there was no call for a revolution, as in some other Arab states.
As tragic as it is that a protester died on 27 February 2011, his death was instructive in preventing further outbreaks of violence in the months that followed, during which strikes and demonstrations dominated the country and almost became a national sport. His death galvanised the entire nation. While in Tunisia and Egypt Facebook and Twitter were the interfaces for coordinating the uprising, the Omanis sent each other text messages from mobile phone to mobile phone in which they warned each other to make sure that there would be no more violence. As early as 2 March, thousands of Omanis demonstrated to express their protest against the actions of violent protesters in Sohar and their confidence in the policies of Sultan Qaboos.
In the months that followed, the monarch flooded his people with decrees and decisions designed to fulfil the demands of the people, some of which went even further. He dismissed twelve ministers and largely replaced them with young, popularly elected members of the Majlis Al-Shura; the corrupt Ministry of Economy was given six weeks to dissolve itself; the popularly hated minister of the »Royal Office« and top security chief were also dismissed within a few days; the police and public prosecutor's office were separated, the latter can now act in complete independence.

Broadcasting and television have been separated from the Ministry of Information. The rights and duties of the 'Majlis ash-Shura' have been greatly expanded - unlike in the past, it now has the right to pass laws and control the budgets of ministers and can call them in for questioning. The second chamber of the government, the State Council (»Majlis Al-Dawla«), was made up of the academic elite of society. The task of the council is to participate in the planning of future projects and social development. Both chambers have been tasked with reforming the constitution, in which the recent political changes are to be firmly anchored. Qaboos decreed the creation of 50,000 jobs, an increase in the minimum income for Omanis, the introduction of a basic unemployment scheme and the registration of all unemployed people in the country.

An indication of the growing political awareness is also the increased participation in the elections for the Majlis Al-Shura in December 2011, which rose by 30 per cent to over half a million. The ministries and state bodies are now also endeavouring to maintain a continuous exchange with the citizens. They have appointed contact persons in the public Omani forums who are available to answer questions from the population. The amazing thing is that the questions are actually answered promptly within a few hours - a bureaucratic sensation.