The writer is Prime Minister of Lebanon and former President of the International Court of Justice 

When I stepped down as President of the International Court of Justice earlier this year to serve as Lebanon’s prime minister, I did so with full knowledge of the enormity of the task. 

I returned not to the stability of a well-governed state — but to a country brought to its knees by decades of gross mismanagement, sectarianism, corruption and wars. Our national currency had lost over 98 per cent of its value since 2019. The economy had contracted by nearly 45 per cent. 

Banks had frozen more than $124bn in deposits. The 2020 Beirut port explosion claimed over two hundred lives, injured thousands and destroyed large parts of the capital — demonstrating institutional failure in the starkest terms. And the recent war with Israel only deepened the country’s tremendous suffering and devastation. But Lebanon’s story need not end in collapse. Our future can and must be driven by a strong and modern state that backs the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and tenacity for which the Lebanese have long been known.

That is why our government is determined to launch a national reset anchored in two mutually reinforcing pillars: sovereignty and reform. 

The first pillar — sovereignty — is critical. We unequivocally affirm that only the Lebanese state may possess arms within its territory, and that only the Lebanese state has the authority to decide matters of war and peace.  On August 5, my government instructed the Lebanese army to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that the state holds a monopoly on arms throughout the country. One month later, we endorsed the plan, which sets as a first phase a three-month deadline for securing exclusive state control of arms south of the Litani River and for containing weapons across the rest of Lebanon. We have also significantly strengthened security at Beirut International Airport and at border crossings, dismantled hundreds of illicit arms depots and disabled networks smuggling weapons, drugs and other contraband.

The second pillar — reform — is essential to rebuilding the economy and strengthening the institutions that sustain it. To this end, we have passed a landmark law lifting Lebanon’s notorious bank secrecy, as well as one creating a modern framework for managing banking crises. In addition, we are preparing a long-overdue law that would deliver justice for depositors by ensuring a fair and transparent distribution of the huge losses caused by the financial collapse. These reforms are not just moral imperatives. They are essential for securing a programme with the IMF. This will also help dismantle the cash-based economy that has become a breeding ground for money laundering and organised crime.   

To further transform an all-too-prevalent culture of impunity and corruption, we have advanced a landmark law strengthening the judiciary’s independence and independent regulatory authorities to revitalise the electricity, aviation and telecom sectors, as well as merit-based criteria for public appointments. Much more remains to be done and meeting these challenges will require renewed support from our international partners. On the security front, Lebanon continues to honour its commitments under applicable UN Security Council resolutions and the cessation of hostilities announcement reached with Israel in November 2024. Yet, Israel persists in violating Lebanese sovereignty, detaining Lebanese citizens and occupying at least five positions in southern Lebanon. These actions perpetuate instability, fuel renewed conflict and undermine the government’s efforts to restore the state’s authority. The international community must press Israel to cease hostilities and completely withdraw from Lebanon, as well as strengthen support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, the institution best placed to secure lasting stability. As we negotiate with the IMF and seek private investment, we will spare no effort to obtain financing for reconstruction and development. I urge our international partners to support us. Without their help, entrenched interests will fill the vacuum and pull the country back into the grip of clientelism, corruption and impunity.

Lebanon matters for the stability of the wider region. We are not asking our international partners to do our work for us, but to stand with us and help us succeed.