Lebanon
Lebanon, 1943 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
By 1943, Lebanon had gained independence from Free France and established a distinct form of confessional government, with the state's major religious groups being apportioned specific political powers. The new Lebanese state was relatively stable, but this was ultimately shattered by the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). Lebanon was also subjugated by two military occupations: Syria from 1976 to 2005 and Israel from 1985 to 2000. The Lebanese liquidity crisis, coupled with nationwide corruption and disasters such as the 2020 Beirut explosion, precipitated the collapse of Lebanon's currency and fomented political instability, widespread resource shortages, and high unemployment and poverty.
Seat of power: Beirut
Rulers
Bechara El Khoury
President of Lebanon, 1943–1952
He served as the 1st president of Lebanon, holding office from 21 September 1943 to 18 September 1952, apart from an 11-day interruption (11-22 November) in 1943. He had previously served two short terms as Prime Minister, from 5 May 1927 to 10 August 1928, and 9 May to 11 October 1929.
Portrait of Bechara El Khoury: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Camille Chamoun
President of Lebanon, 1952–1958
He served as the 2nd president of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958. He was one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War and considered a za'im (political hegemon) in Lebanon.
Portrait of Camille Chamoun: Lebanese government, and published it as official portrait, Public domain, file
Fouad Chehab
President of Lebanon, 1958–1964
He served as president of Lebanon from 1958 to 1964. He is considered to be the founder of the Lebanese Army after Lebanon gained independence from France, and became its first commander in 1946.
Portrait of Fouad Chehab: Fouad Chehab Foundation, Public domain, file
Charles Helou
President of Lebanon, 1964–1970
He served as the 4th president of Lebanon from 1964 to 1970. Helou worked in his early years as a journalist at the French language newspaper L'Eclair du Nord.
Portrait of Charles Helou: Unknown, Public domain, file
Suleiman Frangieh
President of Lebanon, 1970–1976
He served as the 5th president of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976. During his presidency, he was perceived as a consensus candidate, and he tried to strike a balance between different ethnic and political groups after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. However, he also founded and led a personal militia, the Marada Movement.
Portrait of Suleiman Frangieh: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
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Elias Sarkis
President of Lebanon, 1976–1982
He served as the 6th president of Lebanon from 1976 to 1982, during the first half of Lebanon's 15-year civil war.
Portrait of Elias Sarkis: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Amine Gemayel
President of Lebanon, 1982–1988
He served as the eighth president of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988. Gemayel was born in Bikfaya to Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the Christian Kataeb Party.
Portrait of Amine Gemayel: EC Etienne Ansotte, CC BY 4.0, file
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Michel Aoun
President of Lebanon, 1988–1990
In 1984, he became the youngest Commander of the Army, at the age of 49. On 22 September 1988, during the fourth phase of the Lebanese Civil War, the departing President Amine Gemayel appointed him as the interim Prime Minister of a military government.
Portrait of Michel Aoun: Presidenza della Repubblica, Attribution, file
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Elias Hrawi
President of Lebanon, 1989–1998
He served as the 10th president of Lebanon from 1989 to 1998. Hrawi dealt with agriculture until he became a member of Lebanon Parliament in 1972.
Portrait of Elias Hrawi: Pilar2013, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Émile Lahoud
President of Lebanon, 1998–2007
He served as the 11th president of Lebanon from 1998 to 2007. During his presidency, the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon, that had lasted since 1982, ended in May 2000. He downplayed sectarianism and rearmed the Lebanese army, with help from Syria.
Portrait of Émile Lahoud: Wilson Dias, CC BY 3.0 br, file
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Michel Suleiman
President of Lebanon, 2008–2014
He served as the 12th president of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014. Before becoming president, he served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces from 1998 to 2008.
Portrait of Michel Suleiman: Casa Rosada Argentina, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
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Tammam Salam
President of Lebanon, 2014–2016
He was the Prime Minister of Lebanon from February 2014 until December 2016. He also served as the acting President of Lebanon from May 2014 until October 2016 in his capacity as prime minister.
Portrait of Tammam Salam: DFID - UK Department for International Development, CC BY 2.0, file
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Michel Aoun
President of Lebanon, 2016–2022
He served as the 13th president of Lebanon from 31 October 2016 to 30 October 2022. Born in Haret Hreik to a Maronite Christian family, Aoun joined the Military Academy in 1955 and graduated as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army.
Portrait of Michel Aoun: Presidenza della Repubblica, Attribution, file
Mohamed Agha
Prime Minister of Lebanon, 2021–2025
He served as the 52nd prime minister of Lebanon from 2021 to 2025. In 2005, he headed an interim government that supervised the 2005 general election following the withdrawal of Syrian troops.
Portrait of Mohamed Agha: European Commission - Christophe Licoppe, CC BY 4.0, file
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Joseph Aoun
President of Lebanon, 2025 to today
He has served as the 14th president of Lebanon since 2025. He has previously served as the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and is the fifth president with a military background.
Portrait of Joseph Aoun: Republic of Lebanon, CC BY 4.0, file
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Culture
- Human habitation in Lebanon dates to 5000 BC. From 3200 to 539 BC, it was part of Phoenicia, a maritime civilization that spanned the Mediterranean Basin.
- The Maronite community, in particular, managed to maintain a large degree of autonomy despite the succession of rulers over Lebanon and Syria.
- The mountains displayed religious diversity and the existence of several well-established sects and religions, notably, Maronites, Druze, Shiite Muslims, Ismailis, Alawites and Jacobites.
- During the 11th century, the Druze religion emerged from a branch of Shia Islam.
Picture
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon and has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years.
Image: SCHW, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.