Brunei

Political and Security Environment

Background. Brunei is a long-established Islamic sultanate whose history dates to 1365. The sultanate became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1888, a situation that was maintained until 1984, when the sultanate regained full independence. The current Sultan, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, came to power in 1967 following the abdication of his father, Omar Ali Saifuddin.  

As one of the world's richest men, the Sultan has personal wealth estimated at...