Saniora to Asharq Al-Awsat: Developing Lebanon’s System Cannot Take Place under Threat of Arms

Lebanese former Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (NNA)
Lebanese former Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (NNA)
TT
20

Saniora to Asharq Al-Awsat: Developing Lebanon’s System Cannot Take Place under Threat of Arms

Lebanese former Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (NNA)
Lebanese former Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (NNA)

Former Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said that the roots of Lebanon’s crises can be traced to differences over how to govern the country.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said that the country was split between supporters of the Saudi-sponsored Taef Accord and others who advocate the use of force.

“Developing Lebanon’ system of rule cannot take place under the threat of arms,” he stressed.

Moreover, he said Lebanon “should not be bound to foreign powers or weapons that are imposed on the people.”

Saniora had declared an initiative on coexistence, the constitution and national salvation based on the implementation of the Taef Accord.

The accord, he explained, helps shape Lebanon, but has not been given the opportunity to be properly implemented.

The agreement was reached in 1989 to end the 1975-90 civil war.

On the other end of the divide, continued Saniora, are forces that are turning to sides beyond the “real national pact and who are relying on foreign and local balances of power. These powers rely on the use of force that cannot be tolerated in Lebanon.”

He added that Lebanon is suffering from political predicaments and differences over concepts, prompting calls to develop its system of rule.

“Lebanon is built on the power of balance, not the balance of powers,” he declared, urging the need to return to the Taef Accord that would “fairly appease all sides.”

Furthermore, he warned that the most dangerous factor of the crisis is the main political forces’ inability to take the initiative to detail a plan to save the country. They are instead too preoccupied with saving themselves and are awaiting regional developments to make their next move, he lamented.

To break the impasse, Saniora urged the return to the Taef Accord, rejecting claims that the deal was only a product of its time and need to end the civil war.

On the contrary, he said, the accord was a “historic and realistic settlement that struck right balances and rectified wrong behaviors that had marred Lebanon for a century.”

He stressed that the accord boasts the elements that make it strategically sustainable.

The former PM explained that his initiative does not discriminate between parties and sects, but emphasizes sides that have expressed their determination to come together. The initiative is not aimed against political parties, but seeks to end the impasse.

He urged the need for national Lebanese efforts that can pull the country out of its crisis, saying the people should be empowered to restore authority to the state, determine their future and steer clear of regional conflicts.

Moreover, Saniora told Asharq Al-Awsat that the successive crises in Lebanon over the years are not the result of a failed political system as some claim. Rather, the crises are a result of political administrations that have not been up to the task of implementing the Taef Accord.

After the accord was signed, the implementation of constitutional reform was tasked to the Syrian regime, which acted in Lebanon to serve its own interests, he charged.

The regime had an interest in “putting out some fires, while stoking others” so that it could maintain its hegemony over Lebanon, he stated, wondering how a “dictatorship could be entrusted with managing a democracy.”

He said that sectarian parties were also to blame for the dire state of affairs. He remarked that the parties highlighted “common fears instead of coexistence, so instead of each party working with each other, they became suspicious of each other.”



Red Cross Spokesperson: War in Sudan Caused Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions

Smoke billows from al-Jaili oil refinery north of Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city, during battles between the Sudanese military forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from al-Jaili oil refinery north of Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city, during battles between the Sudanese military forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
TT
20

Red Cross Spokesperson: War in Sudan Caused Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions

Smoke billows from al-Jaili oil refinery north of Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city, during battles between the Sudanese military forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from al-Jaili oil refinery north of Omdurman, the Sudanese capital's twin city, during battles between the Sudanese military forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan, Adnan Hazam, has described the situation in Sudan as catastrophic, stating that the war has created a “grim humanitarian reality.”

He emphasized that the scale of needs is enormous, but humanitarian aid remains modest due to the complexities of accessing conflict zones, delivering assistance, and ensuring its distribution within the country.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hazam noted that millions of Sudanese are in urgent need of aid. He revealed that tens of thousands have been killed and injured as a result of the war, which has also displaced over 11 million people both internally and externally. The conflict has caused severe damage to infrastructure, particularly water, healthcare, and electricity services.

Hazam explained that the aid being delivered is aimed at alleviating suffering as much as possible under the current circumstances.

According to Hazam, the ICRC is concentrating its efforts this year on life-saving activities and meeting basic humanitarian needs. These include healthcare, protection, food relief, and financial assistance for the most affected communities near conflict zones. The organization is also working to reunite families separated by the war and locate missing persons.

The spokesperson added that the ICRC is coordinating with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in most parts of the country and collaborating with official health authorities. He acknowledged the immense challenges facing humanitarian organizations in Sudan, saying: “The scale of needs is staggering. Our efforts aim to mitigate suffering, but ending it completely is beyond reach, as the conflict has created a deeply painful humanitarian reality.”

He stressed that the ICRC is in constant communication with all parties to the conflict to facilitate access to those in need.

“We remind all sides of their moral and legal obligations under international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, guarantees safe passage for displaced persons, and protects healthcare and public service facilities—80% of which are no longer functional,” he remarked.

Hazam highlighted the deteriorating health and environmental conditions in Sudan, which have severely impacted the population and made access to healthcare increasingly difficult.

“With the spread of epidemics and seasonal diseases, the burden on the few operational healthcare institutions has doubled,” he said.

He also called for an end to attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, emphasizing the need for greater adherence to international humanitarian law.

Regarding the evacuation of civilians trapped in conflict zones, Hazam explained that the ICRC is engaged in ongoing dialogue with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He noted that the organization is urging both parties to open safe corridors in conflict areas, stressing that this is a “legal and moral obligation that must be fulfilled.”

Hazam noted that the ICRC has previously acted as a neutral mediator to facilitate the evacuation of detainees from both sides, but such actions require direct requests and security guarantees. He emphasized: “Civilians who choose to remain must be protected, as they are not participants in the hostilities.”

The ICRC official expressed hope for lasting peace and stability in Sudan, noting that it would significantly ease humanitarian suffering.

“The Sudanese people deserve to live in safety,” he said. He reiterated that the ICRC operates with neutrality and independence, striving to reach those most in need.

According to the latest UN reports, over 25.6 million people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 755,000 at risk of severe famine.