The Nigerian government has lauded the election of Joseph Aoun as the President of the Lebanese Republic and extended its goodwill message to the government and people of Lebanon over the poll outcome.
Joseph Aoun, the former Lebanese army commander, is the country’s 14th president after a two-year vacancy. He garnered 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament to win the presidency, thereby breaking a deadlock that has left the country without a head of state since October 2022.
A statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Acting Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, noted that Nigeria looks forward to further “strengthening its historic, strong, and vibrant relationship with Lebanon” for the benefit of all their peoples.
The 61-year-old Aoun now fills a presidential vacuum of more than two years left by his predecessor, Michel Aoun – who is not related to him.
Joseph Aoun’s appointment overcame a major impasse as Lebanon’s parliament had met on 12 prior occasions to vote for a president but failed to elect one.
Born in 1964 in Sin el-Fil, a northern suburb of Beirut, Aoun came to prominence during his time as Lebanon’s army commander, a position he ascended to in 2017, and which, like the president of the republic, has to be occupied by a member of Aoun’s sect, Maronite Christianity.
The new President is confronted with the economic and political crises that have beset the country over the years, which is compounded by a sectarian political system that has entrenched an ageing political gerontocracy, replete with corruption and political mismanagement.
Recall that in August 2020 Lebanon witnessed a horrible explosion in its capital Beirut, which killed more than 220 people and the country is still grappling with the aftermath of that disaster.
The new President is also tasked with rebuilding the confidence of his country people and motivating its armed forces, especially now that the Shia militia group, Hezbollah appeared to been routed by the invading Israeli forces, giving room for the Lebanese to take back their country, especially after the ceasefire deal on November 27 last year.
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