Lebanon has formed its first full government since 2022, headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This comes amidst the country's ongoing struggles to rebuild its southern region, address a devastating war with Israel, and combat a crippling economic crisis.
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon ’s new prime minister on Saturday formed the country’s first full-fledged government since 2022. President Joseph Aoun announced in a statement that he had accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government and signed a decree with new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam forming the new government.
Salam’s cabinet of 24 ministers, split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects, was formed less than a month after he was appointed, and comes at a time where Lebanon is scrambling to rebuild its battered southern region and maintain security along its southern border after a devastating war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal ended the war in November. Lebanon is also still in the throes of a crippling economic crisis, now in its sixth year, which has battered its banks, destroyed its state electricity sector and left many in poverty unable to access their savings. Salam, a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice, has vowed to reform Lebanon’s judiciary and battered economy and bring about stability in the troubled country, which has faced numerous economic, political, and security crises for decades. Though Hezbollah did not endorse Salam as prime minister, the Lebanese group did engage in negotiations with the new prime minister over the Shiite Muslim seats in government, as per Lebanon’s power-sharing system. Lebanon’s new authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah, as Beirut hopes to continue improving ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations that have been concerned by Hezbollah’s growing political and military power over the past decade. In early January, former army chief Aoun was elected president, ending that position’s vacuum. He was also a candidate not endorsed by Hezbollah and key allies. Aoun has shared similar sentiments to Salam, also vowing to consolidate the state’s right to “monopolize the carrying of weapons,” in an apparent reference to the arms of Hezbollah
LEBANON GOVERNMENT HEZBOLLAH ECONOMIC CRISIS SECURITY NEW PRESIDENT
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Army chief Joseph Aoun elected Lebanon's president after position left vacant since 2022Lebanon's army chief Joseph Aoun leaves the parliament building after being elected as the country's President in Beirut, Lebanon, January 9, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Read more »
Staal, Tokarski lead Hurricanes to 2-0 win over Vancouver CanucksFirst shutout since 2022 for Carolina netminder
Read more »
Defensive-minded Raptors aim for sixth straight win against BullsToronto Raptors have won five straight for first time since March 24-April 1, 2022
Read more »
White House says Israel and Lebanon have extended deadline for troop withdrawal to Feb. 18MAYS AL-JABAL, Lebanon (AP) — The White House said Sunday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until Feb.
Read more »
White House says Israel and Lebanon have extended deadline for troop withdrawal to Feb. 18MAYS AL-JABAL, Lebanon (AP) — The White House said Sunday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the deadline for Israeli troops to depart southern Lebanon until Feb.
Read more »
Djokovic declines to address a past interview about getting sick in Australia in 2022Novak Djokovic did not want to rehash — or even discuss at all, really — what he said Friday was a months-old interview with GQ magazine in which he recalled having high levels of metal in his blood from food he was served while detained before being deported from Australia in 2022.
Read more »