Michel Aoun

Biography

Michel Naim Aoun was born on February 18, 1935, in Haret Hreik to a Maronite Christian family. He started his military career by entering the Military Academy in 1955 and graduating as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army. His service lined up with one of the most challenging times in Lebanese history, as sectarian tensions and regional conflicts shaped the country's politics. Aoun moved up through the ranks during the Lebanese Civil War, showing leadership skills that eventually helped him reach the top levels of military command.

In 1984, Aoun became the youngest Commander of the Lebanese Army at age 49. This happened during the fourth phase of the Lebanese Civil War, when Lebanon was split between different militias and foreign forces. On September 22, 1988, departing President Amine Gemayel made the controversial choice to appoint Aoun as interim Prime Minister of a military government after parliament couldn't elect a new president. This appointment led to a unique situation with two rival governments claiming legitimacy: Aoun's administration, backed mainly by Christians and Iraq, and a government led by Acting Prime Minister Selim Hoss, supported by Muslims and Syria.

Aoun's time as interim Prime Minister featured bold but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to restore Lebanese sovereignty. On March 14, 1989, he declared the War of Liberation against Syrian Army forces occupying Lebanon, positioning himself as a defender of Lebanese independence. He opposed the Taif Agreement, which many Lebanese Christians saw as reducing their political influence, and he refused to recognize the newly elected presidents René Moawad and Elias Hrawi. His resistance led to armed conflicts not only with Syrian forces but also with other Christian factions, notably the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea. After surviving an assassination attempt on October 12, 1990, Aoun faced a decisive Syrian military operation the next day that overran his strongholds, including the Presidential Palace in Baabda, resulting in hundreds of casualties among Lebanese soldiers and civilians.

Following his military defeat, Aoun sought refuge in the French Embassy in Beirut, where he declared surrender and was later granted asylum in France. During his 15-year exile, he founded the Free Patriotic Movement and became an international advocate for Lebanese sovereignty, notably testifying before the US Congress in support of the Syria Accountability Act. The 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri led to massive demonstrations that resulted in the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, allowing Aoun to return. He returned to Lebanon on May 7, 2005, and gradually rebuilt his political influence. His efforts led to his election as the 13th President of Lebanon on October 31, 2016, where he served until October 30, 2022. Throughout his career, he was married to Nadia El-Chami Aoun and received several honors, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Order of Merit, and National Order of the Cedar.