Abu Dhabi joins Franco-Saudi aid fund to assist Lebanese people

After more than a year of efforts and attempts at mediation between the opposing political forces in Lebanon, France has not yet succeeded in getting the Beirut government to make progress in implementing economic, political and social reforms to tackle the serious crisis plaguing the country. However, in his diplomatic efforts, President Macron has secured the contribution of the United Arab Emirates to the Franco-Saudi fund set up at the beginning of December for humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people.

"President Emmanuel Macron's visit enabled the Gulf Arab states to resume relations with Lebanon and saw the establishment of a Franco-Saudi fund to support the Lebanese, which will be supported by a contribution from the United Arab Emirates," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced during a parliamentary session. Although the size of the budget and how it will work are still unknown, this commitment is also an opportunity for Riyadh and Beirut to resume relations.

Diplomatic ties between Lebanon and the Gulf states were severely compromised after former Lebanese information minister George Kordahi criticised Saudi Arabia's intervention in the Yemeni conflict. This led to the departure of the Saudi ambassador from Beirut, the expulsion of the Lebanese ambassador to Riyadh and the cutting off of imports from Lebanon, in addition to retaliatory measures by Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait.

In this vein, just a few days ago the Saudi ambassador to Beirut, Walid Bukhari, claimed that the Hezbollah militia-party - considered a terrorist group by several Western powers and openly backed by the Republic of Iran - is engaging in "military behaviour that threatens Arab regional security". Bukhari also urged the Lebanese government to stop "Hezbollah's hegemony in all aspects of the state".

This instability in its external relations only accentuates the internal problems facing the country. In the midst of an economic, social and political crisis, Lebanon has yet to come up with any tangible solutions to remedy the situation.

As of today, the wages of nine out of 10 Lebanese citizens have fallen to historic lows. Nearly 80 per cent of the population is below the poverty line and their incomes are still based on the exchange rate set by the government before the value of their currency lost 95 per cent of its value. The equivalent to the US dollar is more than 33,000 Lebanese pounds, and the minimum wage is barely more than $20. In these circumstances, riots and protests are common, such as those that took place a few days ago when several demonstrators blocked roads in various parts of the country. This discontent is compounded by an inflation rate of nearly 200 points, rising fuel prices and increasing shortages of basic supplies and electricity.

However, what for now seems to be the only lifeline in sight - the granting of a budget line for a recovery plan by the International Monetary Fund - is a long way off in view of the political upheaval that is keeping the country adrift. Thus, as long as the blockades of the Council of Ministers by the Hezbollah and Amal Movement parties do not cease, the economic crisis described by the World Bank as "one of the most serious financial collapses in history" cannot be tackled. This political boycott has been underway since mid-October, just weeks after Prime Minister Najib Mikati came to power, and has been described as an "unacceptable disruption" by French minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

For its part, Hezbollah, which is calling for the dismissal of Judge Tarek Bitar - investigator of the August 2020 explosion that killed more than 200 people in the port of Beirut - has claimed that the country's economic problems are part of a financial war aimed at extorting money from citizens to prevent them from supporting its party politically. Thus, Ali Damoush, vice-chairman of Hezbollah's executive council, publicly stated: "nothing will make us give up our right, neither siege, nor sanctions, nor media campaigns".

Discontent among members of the unique political alliance of President Michel Aoun and the Hezbollah group now has the coalition of more than six years hanging by a thread, dragging with it the stability of an entire country. Faced with this situation, voices such as that of political analyst Mohamed Obeid affirm that there are only two possible solutions: "the resignation of the ministers" who are leading the boycott, or the "dismissal of the investigating judge", as he declared to the media outlet El Confidencial.