Mishaal bin Saud Al Saud

Mishaal bin Saud Al Saud (Arabic: مشعل بن سعود آل سعود, romanized: Mishaʿal ibn Suʿūd Āl Suʿūd; born 1940)[citation needed] is a Saudi Arabian retired politician, businessman, and former military officer who served as the governor of the Najran Province from 1996 to 2008.

[6] Tensions among the Ismaili community remained high since Prince Mishaal's arrival as governor, leading to major protests in 2000.

[12] A protest letter sent in January 2008 to the Governor Mishaal bin Saud complained of marginalisation and said plans to settle another Yemeni tribe must stop.

"We received assurances that some issues might be resolved, but others will take time," said Mohammed Al Askar, an Ismaili activist involved in drawing up the petition.

On 4 November 2008, King Abdullah issued a royal decree relieving Mishaal bin Saud from his duties as governor reportedly at his own request.

[6] In other words, Mishaal bin Saud was relieved of his duties in November 2008 partly due to his inability to eliminate or at least, reduce tensions among the Ismailis in the province.

On the other hand, as a result of increased violence across the border in Yemen as well as tensions between the Yemeni and Saudi governments, a secure and stable Najran province is all the more critical to the Kingdom.