For years, protests have been brewing in the streets of Lebanon. People have been angry with the inactive government that has struggled to get anything done due to sectarianism. Lebanon’s three main political offices are headed by different religious sectors; Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, and Maronite Christians.
After the explosion in Beirut, on August 4, the country leapt into such chaos that the government resigned. France stepped in to offer their aid, but only if politicians started working on reforms. France is also pushing the Lebanese government for the formation of a new cabinet, but different religious parties have come to a political gridlock.
There are two parties dominated by the Shia Muslims; Hezbollah, who is supported by Iran, and the Amal Movement. They are currently pushing their own agenda by trying to place their ministers in positions of power, which makes it hard to get aid from France, who is urging the formation of a whole new cabinet.
Not only will the unstable government continue to cause turmoil in the region, but the struggling economy will also cause issues for neighboring countries. Lebanon imports a greater amount of goods than it exports. In situations like the current one, where the currency has lost so much value, and the need for imports is increasing, the explosion only exacerbated the scarcity of the goods needed.
France also set other milestones to help improve the crumbling economy and build up Lebanon’s infrastructure, but attempts at these reforms still haven’t been presented. If Lebanon doesn’t pass laws soon to fix the economy, stabilize their government, and try to satisfy the needs of the people, they will continue to have protests and receive pressure from France and other countries to make reforms. Lebanon could turn into a failed state, and even devolve into a civil war, which will cause instability in the region.