We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The Defence Council is hereby formed under the chairmanship of the Sultan and the membership of the following:
– Minister of the Palace Office, Head of the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
– Inspector General of Police and Customs.
– Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.
– Commander of the Royal Army of Oman.
– Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman.
– Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman.
– Commander of the Royal Guard of Oman.
– Head of the Internal Security Service.
Article II
In cases other than those stipulated in article 6 of the Basic Statute of the State, the Defence Council shall meet at the invitation of the Sultan. The council shall consider matters relating to the preservation of the safety of the Sultanate and its defence.
In the case stipulated in the mentioned article 6, the council shall convene by force of law under the chairmanship of its highest-ranking member and in the attendance of at least two-thirds of its members. If more than one member is equal in this rank, the chairmanship must be for the most senior of them, in order to carry out the following:
(a) Inviting the Ruling Family Council to convene to determine to whom the mandate to rule is transferred. If the Defence Council does not take the initiative to issue the invitation, the family council must be deemed to be convened by force of law.
(b) Confirming the person indicated by the Sultan in his letter to the family council, and taking the necessary measures in this regard, if the family council does not agree on the selection of a Sultan for the country within the period specified by law.
The Defence Council shall remain in session until the Sultan takes the oath stipulated in article 7 of the Basic Statute of the State.
Article III
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force from the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 17 Sha’ban 1417
Corresponding to: 28 December 1996
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 590 issued on 1 January 1997.