Michel Aoun served as the thirteenth president of Lebanon from 2016 to 2022, marking a career defined by his rise through the military and subsequent transition into central political leadership. Born in Haret Hreik in 1933, his professional path encompasses key roles as a general, a wartime prime minister, and an influential parliamentary leader within the Lebanese state.
Military Foundation and Command
Aoun enrolled in the Military Academy in 1955 and graduated as an artillery officer in the Lebanese Army. By 1984, he attained the position of Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces at the age of 49, becoming the youngest individual to hold this rank at the time. His early service included training in France and the United States, with assignments spanning the Second Artillery Regiment and command roles that preceded his rise to the highest levels of national security leadership.
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In September 1988, President Amine Gemayel appointed Aoun as interim Prime Minister of a military government. This period of the Lebanese Civil War saw the establishment of rival governments, as Aoun opposed the Taif Agreement and declared a War of Liberation against Syrian forces in March 1989. Following the loss of his strongholds in October 1990 and a survival of an assassination attempt, he sought asylum in France, where he lived in exile for 15 years.
Return and Political Consolidation
Following the 2005 withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, Aoun returned to the country and founded the Free Patriotic Movement. He served as a Member of the Parliament of Lebanon from 2005 until 2016. During this time, he aligned with Hezbollah through a 2006 memorandum of understanding. He eventually reconciled with Samir Geagea and was elected president in 2016, a term that concluded in 2022 amidst significant domestic unrest and a national liquidity crisis.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Haret Hreik
- Military Rank: General
- President of Lebanon: 1988-1990; 2016-2022
- Prime Minister of Lebanon: 1988-1990
- Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces: 1984-1989
- Member of Parliament: 2005-2016
- Religion: Maronite Church
- Languages: Arabic, French, Italian, English
Questions readers ask
What military positions did Michel Aoun hold?
He served as the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces from 1984 to 1989 and was a career artillery officer.
When did Aoun serve as President of Lebanon?
He served two non-consecutive periods: first as part of a military government from 1988 to 1990, and later as the elected president from 2016 to 2022.
Achievements
- Prime Minister of Lebanon (1988–1990)
- Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (1984–1989)
- President of Lebanon (1988–1990)
- President of Lebanon (2016–2022)
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Order of Merit
- National Order of the Cedar
