Timeline: The rise and fall of Sunni influence in Lebanon

The distribution of Lebanese Sunnis across all parts of the country has hindered its ability to form a cohesive community like other sects

Majalla

Al Majalla highlights milestones of Sunni leadership since the establishment of the Greater Lebanon State in 1920.

Timeline: The rise and fall of Sunni influence in Lebanon

Al Majalla - London

last update on 13 Dec 2023

Lebanon's Sunni community comprises roughly one-third of the nation's total population. They are dispersed across the entire country — from the far north to the far south. While this offers certain advantages, it also hinders the communal cohesion seen among other sects in Lebanon.

Furthermore, the social diversity within urban and rural locales exacerbates internal divisions among Sunnis, hindering the establishment of comprehensive leadership except in some instances, including figures like Riad Solh and Rafik Hariri.

Al Majalla highlights milestones of Sunni leadership since the establishment of the Greater Lebanon State in 1920.

• 1920

The Sunni Mufti, Sheikh Mustafa Naja, took part in the proclamation ceremony of Greater Lebanon at the headquarters of the French occupation in Beirut. However, Sheikh Naja maintained his title as the Grand Mufti of Beirut — an honour bestowed upon him by the Ottoman Sultan — rejecting any appointment as the Mufti of Lebanon.

General Henri Gouraud, the French High Commissioner, ousted the young Mufti of Tripoli, Abdul Hamid Karami, for supporting the Arab state cause. Gouraud subsequently appointed a replacement in Karami's place.

• 1926

The Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association rejects the Lebanese constitution proposed by the French mandate, abstaining from involvement in its formulation.

• 1933

The Sons of the Coast Conference in Damascus, presided over by Abdul Hamid Karami, express opposition to Lebanon's separation and advocated staying unified with Syria.

• 1936

The Coast and Four Districts Conference convenes at the residence of leader Ali Salim Salam in Beirut and affirms its commitment to Syrian unity.

• 1936

Lebanese politician Kazem Al-Solh dissented from the resolutions of the Coast Conference, articulating his opposition in an article titled "The Problem of Connection and Separation in Lebanon." This article was acknowledged as a cornerstone of the "National Pact," a pivotal development that facilitated Muslim engagement in the Lebanese entity.

• 1943

11 November: Dozens were killed as Senegalese soldiers suppressed protests led by young Tripoli residents demanding independence.

• 1943

22 November: Lebanon gains its independence. Bechara El Khoury becomes Lebanon's first president, while Riad al-Solh is appointed prime minister.

Getty — Bechara El Khoury on the battlefield.

The pronouncement from the Solh government stood as the singular written manifestation of the "National Pact," offering reassurances to the Christian population regarding Lebanon's autonomy and affirming to the broader Arab community that Lebanon would not serve as a conduit for colonial interests.

The Solh government reassures Lebanon's Christian population over Lebanon's autonomy and affirms to the broader Arab community that Lebanon would not serve as a conduit for colonial interests.

• 1951

Riad al-Solh is assassinated in Jordan by a member of the Syrian Social National Party. The party alleged that Solh had played a role in the thwarting of their coup, which subsequently led to the arrest and execution of their leader, Antoine Saadeh.

• 1958

In 1958, Muslims opposed the extension of President Camille Chamoun's term owing to his pro-Western stance. They participated in a brief civil uprising orchestrated by Saeb Salam and the socialist Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt, backed by the United Arab Republic of Egypt and Syria.

AFP — Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saeb Salam.

• 1970

Following the election of President Suleiman Franjieh, Prime Minister Saeb Salam spearheads an initiative to dismantle the influence of the "Second Bureau," which had wielded significant control over Lebanese political affairs during the presidencies of Fouad Chehab and Charles Helou.

• 1973

A major political crisis unfolds after the Israeli Operation Spring of Youth (The Vedrun Massacre), leading Christians to advocate for the deployment of the army to control Palestinian camps. Nevertheless, this proposition encounters resistance from Muslims aligned with the Palestine Liberation Organisation, as well as leftist political factions.

• 1973

Saeb Salam steps down as prime minister in response to the crisis surrounding the deployment of the army and the ensuing confrontation with the Palestinians.

• 1975

Lebanon's civil war begins. Lebanese Sunnis become involved in limited armed involvement, confined mainly to certain peripheral Nasserite groups and joining Palestinian and leftist organisations. Other Sunni figures enjoy prominent roles within various entities throughout this tumultuous period, led by Saeb Salam, Grand Mufti Hassan Khaled, and subsequently Prime Minister Salim Hoss.

• 1989

The assassination of Grand Mufti Hassan Khaled is seen as a chilling warning to the Lebanese Sunni community for opposing Syrian policies in Lebanon.

The same year, the Taif Agreement is reached in Saudi Arabia, which ends Lebanon's civil war. It underscores the role of the Sunni sect in Lebanon as a bridge for national reconciliation and the subsequent reconstruction of the country.

This transformative phase is notably steered by businessman Rafik Hariri, who assumed the position of prime minister in 1992.

In 1989, the Taif Agreement is reached in Saudi Arabia, which ends Lebanon's civil war. It underscores the role of the Sunni sect in Lebanon as a bridge for national reconciliation and the subsequent reconstruction of the country.

• 2005

Hariri is assassinated by a car bomb, which deals a significant blow to both the reconstruction efforts and the influential role of the Sunni community in Lebanese politics.

• 2008

Hezbollah forces occupy the Sunni-majority capital, Beirut, and establish a new political dynamic in favour of their party and its allies following the implementation of the Doha Agreement.

• 2019

Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigns following mass protests against corruption and worsening living conditions. Many Sunnis perceive this as yet another effort to marginalise their influence — especially in light of the ruling coalition's resistance to making concessions or stepping down.

• 2020

A catastrophic explosion rips through the capital's seaport, heavily damaging parts of east Beirut. Subsequently, the Hezbollah-backed government led by Hassan Diab resigns, resulting in a further weakening of the Sunni position.

• 2022

Saad Hariri declares the suspension of his political engagements. The Future Movement, under his leadership, which has historically held sway over the majority of Sunni seats in both parliament and the government since the 1990s, opts to abstain from participating in the parliamentary elections despite some of its supporters joining Najib Mikati's government.

This decision places the Sunni sect in an unprecedented situation. They lack representation within the present-day power-sharing arrangements in the Lebanese political system and have limited ability to push for their interests.

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