The AC is deeply grieved to hear of the deaths of the Slevokxian Premiers after the war ended (when Slevokxia surrendered Sinai). (The AC only wanted Sinai, and put the bounties on the Premiers as a wartime tactic, the bounty was null after the war ended) The Grand Sheikh, after returnign from his secure location and hearing about this tragedy experienced a night of fitful sleep followed by the great seep which must befall everyone eventually. He aged 96.
His two eldest sons are currently maintaining joint control pending a decision on selection of the next Grand Sheikh by the Grand Council of the Arab Confederation (the oligarchy part of the AC government).
The death of the Grand Sheikh has caused some turmoil in the African lands of the AC as many desire their inclusion in the AC to end.
The eldest son currently maintains the AC's holdings from the Caspian Sea to the exit of the Persian Gulf, forming the Eastern Sheikhdom. The second born (probably the one to ascend to the position of Grand Sheikh) governs Arabia, Turkey, Sinai, the AC's Mediterranean islands, and Madagascar, forming the Western Sheikdom. Several districts in North Africa have come together to form the North African Union (NAU, An African version of the AC). The governorship of South Africa is currently delegated to the late Grand Sheikh's nephew, who has "gone native" and formed the African Freedom Front (AFF), a group dedicated to bringing Africa under one government controlled democratically from within Africa.
The Eastern and Western Sheikdoms are working together to hold the AC together until a new Grand Sheikh is appointed. The AFF dislikes the NAU and Western Sheikdom, but likes the Eastern Sheikdom. The NAU dislikes the AFF and the Eastern Sheikdom, but remains neutral with the Western Sheikdom.
If you can't tell, this is an attempt to curb my own power, if the world deems it necessary. The actions of you and your foreign nations will determine whether the AC has become too big, and what will result from that. I will not lose anything in the Middle East or Sinai though.