Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Dead at 90

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has died at the age of 90 of pneumonia on January 23, 2015, according to state media: “His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning [5 p.m. ET Thursday 22 Jan 2015],” state television said in a statement attributed to his successor and half-brother, Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who became king immediately.

Abdullah, who has reigned Saudi Arabia since 2005 after the death of his brother King Fahd, was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 31, 2014. King Abdullah will be laid to rest at the Al Oud cemetery in Riyadh after a period of national mourning.

U.S. President Barack Obama praised King Abdullah as a strong leader who advocated for peace in the Middle East, and as a reformer in his own country. “I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” Obama said in a statement. “As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond. The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah’s legacy.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called King Abdullah “a man of wisdom and vision” and said, “The United States has lost a friend, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and the world has lost a revered leader.”

Former President George H.W. Bush called King Abdullah as a “wise and reliable ally,” recalling the countries’ alliance in the Gulf War after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. “Of course, following the invasion of Kuwait, I will never forget the way Saudi Arabia and the United States stood together against a common foe….”

U.S. Sen. John McCain’s statement said that the King was “an important voice for reform in Saudi Arabia,” adding that “He pushed for the modernization of the education system, curbed the authority of the religious police, and extended women the right to vote and run in municipal elections. He was also a vocal advocate for peace, speaking out against violence in the Middle East and standing as a critical partner in the war on terror.”

King Salman, 79, is known to have suffered from various health issues since 2010. He was serving as the kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister since 2012. Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, 69, another half-brother and former head of Saudi intelligence services, is now the crown prince.

For a look at the Saudi line of succession, click here